Sports Then and Now

When we sat in front of our TV’s back in April to watch the first games of the 2010 season, October seemed eons away.  Yet here we are, the 162-game season has concluded and Fall Baseball is upon us.  All the matchups are set for what could be one of the more entertaining post-seasons in some time.

Texas was the first team to be clear additions to the post-season. Perhaps it’s ironic, then, that they could be the one of the first teams to be eliminated.  Forget all the information you’ll hear about how they have never won a post season series – that was then, this is now.  What “now” specifically means is that Texas is going to go to Tampa with the worst record any playoff team and a pitching rotation that is just slightly above average (3.93 compared to 4.14).  They have the slight edge over Tampa Bay where regular season offense is concerned, but will be fielding a wounded Josh Hamilton (ribs) which will affect his plate performance.

One advantage that Texas does have will be the home town crowd.  Tampa has the home field advantage on paper, but given the fact that their fan-base is mostly imaginary, if the Rangers can split at the Trop, they will have a lot more faithful in attendance when they go back to Arlington.

In the end, though, it will not be enough.

Prediction:  Tampa in 4. Read the rest of this entry →

Jack Kramer was more than a tennis player-he was a visionary of the modern game.

John Albert Kramer, better known as Jack Kramer, did more than play a mean game of tennis.

He initiated a style of play more reminiscent of the serve and volley of John McEnroe than of Pete Sampras––though both games reflect the prowess of Kramer on court.

Off court, Kramer forced the evolution of the structure of modern tennis. He drove the bus that finally arrived in 1968 when amateur and professional tennis blended into one tour, finally allowing players to gain control over their own careers.

The Beginning

“Jack” Kramer was born on August 1, 1921 in Las Vegas, Nevada, and died September 12, 2009 at the age of 88.  His father worked for the Union Pacific railroad. Naturally, the family never accumulated the finer things of life as resources were always lacking.

Shortly after Jack was born, the family moved to the Los Angeles area. But young Kramer had natural athletic ability. He soon found his way into tennis after the family moved to the San Bernardino area, where Kramer was privileged to watch a match played by the great Ellsworth Vines. He became inspired by the brilliant play of Vines and dedicated himself to playing tennis.

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