The Scoop by Carla Maull
Tennis Missing Pizazz, Personality
From the September 3, 1998 TV Times
As much as we don't like to admit it, sports needs colorful personalities and the sport that is suffering the most is professional tennis.
The U.S. Open started Monday, Aug. 31 without fanfare. It's being shown on CBS and USA Networks and not one advertisement to be found. At least that I have seen.
I can only assume these networks are feeling the personality drought from tennis by not advertising the event.
And it's not just the networks that are feeling the effects of the sport's downturn.
The makers of tennis equipment are feeling the slump too. So much so that a manufacturer has resorted to using tennis balls to make dog toys. And very successfully too, I might add.
So what has happened to professional tennis?
For me, the high point of the year used to be the majors. The U.S. Open on Labor Day weekend, breakfast at Wimbledon, the French Open and the Davis Cup.
But professional tennis today just lacks pizzazz.
Gone are the days of John McEnroe, Jimmy Connors, Chris Everett, Ivan Lendl, Martina Navratalova, Bjorn Borg, Tracey Austin, the list is endless.
Was it the quality of tennis or the combination of personalities? This was a likeable group. And if you didn't like them, you loved to hate them. It was pure entertainment.
Today, the talent is there, but the personalities lack that certain something to keep viewers glued to the television.
Pete Sampras is one of the best men's players this sport has ever seen, but he doesn't stand out and keep you captivated.
Andre Agassi tried a few years ago to single-handedly supply tennis with a spark, but he slowly fizzled out.
The act was too contrived, and he couldn't maintain the "image." Gone is the long hair and wild tennis clothes. He has settled into married life and is now trying to get back to the top of his game.
A lot of people thought Jim Courier was going to be the next Jimmy Connors. At the beginning of his career, he captivated the crowd with his brilliant tennis, baseball cap and boyish smile. He seemed unstoppable. Now he struggles to stay ranked in the top 20.
And what ever happened to Pat Cash? He came to Wimbledon a virtual unknown and proceeded to steel the show and the championship away from Ivan Lendl.
After his victory, he found his family high up in the stands and, to the crowds delight, climbed up several sections to kiss and hug them.
And the women? Not much better, I'm sorry to say.
Martina Hingis, Mary Pierce, Venus and Serena Williams, Anna Kournikova and the "old" ladies, Stefi Graf and Monica Seles - these women may be outstanding players, but do they stand out? My answer is no.
Unlike the group before them, there isn't one player you love or love to hate. They're just no fun.
I don't get the impression today's tennis players respect one another. Every time I watched Chris play Martina or John play Jimmy I could tell they had a mutual admiration for one another.
Today, the matches are totally self involved. I never get the impression there is a connection of any kind between the two players. They act as if they are out on the court by themselves.
My solution? Allow the fans to cheer and jeer.
Other than golf (and for very good reasons) tennis is the only sport I know of that reprimands fans for cheering.
A sneeze, a hiccup, shifting in your seat, adjusting your sunglasses, scratching your head or any kind of sudden movement can get you ejected from your seat.
I'm sorry, but I've been to baseball games where the pitcher is standing on the mound in the ninth inning, with bases loaded, two outs and two strikes on the batter with 45,000 fans screaming and cheering. Did I mention he's got to throw a ball 60 feet and hit a target the size of a frisbee while all of this is going on?
This is what tennis needs. A little fan participation.
Let us stand up and cheer for our favorite player. Maybe that will add a little life to a sport that is now lifeless.
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