NEW YORK (AP) -- Andre Agassi, John McEnroe, Pete Sampras, Jimmy Connors and other Grand Slam champions will play a series of matches around the country in October and November.
Patrick Rafter, Jim Courier, Michael Chang, Mats Wilander andTodd Martin are also scheduled to compete in the four-player mini-tournaments. Each event will feature one-set semifinals and a one-set title match.
Formerly known as the Champions Series, the PowerShares Series will open Oct. 13 in Surprise, Ariz., and wrap up Nov. 30 in Anaheim, Calif. Other cities visited include Chicago, Detroit, Boston, Philadelphia, New York, Tampa, Fla., Atlanta, San Jose, Calif., Las Vegas and Denver.
The players will earn points over the course of the series, with the top three finishers splitting a $1 million purse.
16 comments:
Why isn't Dallas on the list? Could it be because officials boycott McEnroe after his spectacle a few years ago?
I think the fact that our favorite to the south - B. West told McEnroe to stick it up his Yankee Orss - may have something to do with that!
One would think they'd find at least one location in TX dumb enough to want them. And I guarantee they'd find enough sycophant linesmen and chairs in the state to call the matches.
I was there the night that Bernie gave McEnroe what for. It was great! McEnroe got up about 3 inches from
Bernie's face and Bernie let him have it.
I had to stop myself from clapping and cheering!
I was the unfortunate chair umpire for the Mac/Connors final. The match was proceeding with no problems until the THIRD point.... And then went South from there. Unfortunately at the time, rules prevented issuing progressive code violations which meant the most stringent penalty I could award was a point. If memory serves me, I did issue two warnings and three point penalties. After Connors got his feelings hurt and walked off the court, I was allowed to default him after 45 minutes had past. The crowd went berserk and Mac eventually convinced Connors to come back to finish the match after he grabbed my microphone and told the crowd he didn't deserve such abuse from them. Go figure!!!
The only thing I should have done differently is pull all on-court officials and ball kids off the match after the players returned to finish the match. That would have been priceless.
As a result of the match, a rule change was implemented allowing players to be defaulted for cause.
FYI - I was selected to chair the match because no other official would.
"sycophant linesmen and chairs in the state to call the matches"
A bit harsh wouldn't you say? The bias found in Texas towards other umpires who are working is a bit shocking to say the least. It is a check for doing something they enjoy, no more, no less. And before the argument of mindless work is brought up remember that it takes concentration and some skill to do it well, besides the same 'mindless' argument could said about chairing a College match as well.
Sounds to me like we have a disgruntled pro level official who can't get hired to work an ITA match in Texas or anywhere else. Its not rocket science and it doesn't take a genius to stand a call a line all day long.
Look at the officials who are more than willing to call lines in the pathetic women's tour matches that they pass off for legitimate tennis.
"sycophant" a self seeking, servile flatterer".
I rest my case.
Those of us who happen to live in Texas and not CA or FL are constantly paying the price of unflattering comments by other umpires. We who choose to call lines do so for our own reasons. We certainly don't need other but-inskys hindering our chances for assignments--it's hard enough because of our location outside the major tennis zones.
Its at least good to know we have some of those disgruntled pro line officials reading the blog.
Thanks for coming around.
And btw, to the one who sent me the email complaining about ITA work in Texas and claiming that they had worked for me--if you don't like it, then send me your name and I'll be sure you are never bothered with an availability again.
The whole point of the discussion is that the best tennis officials anywhere are the ITA officials who work in Texas. I've seen the pro level linespeople and chairs and they can't even hold a light to our ITA folks in Texas.
"The whole point of the discussion is that the best tennis officials anywhere are the ITA officials who work in Texas. I've seen the pro level linespeople and chairs and they can't even hold a light to our ITA folks in Texas."
Well then why don't you rename the bog the Texas ITA Tennis Officials Blog? since it is very anti-pro, anti-USTA and non-tolerant of anyone with a different viewpoint. Only highlighted by the retributionary offer of you to pull your availability. I would think the coordinators would want the best chairs, not the best of their friends, nepotism as a whole rubs me wrong, but I find it no more prevalent than in Texas ITA coordinators.
Randy I don't think what you do is all bad, the chair training opportunities, chair academy,and "how would you rule?" posts to name a few; however, the disgruntled comment seems to apply more to you than to anyone else.
BTW as far as my name, where, and for whom I work (yes, even if it is for you), along with where I go on the Internet is entirely my business. Thank you.
I'll just let that last one speak for itself. I don't have to defend ITA officials because their work takes care of their good reputation.
Conversely, the work of pro linesmen and officials takes care of their reputation.
Of course if you were to find something good in the pro ranks I would be more than glad to publish it.
Good luck and I'll wait to hear from you. I am sorry that you won't give us your name so I can be sure you won't be bothered with those cumbersome ITA availabilities.
Having worked professional level events for over 15 years and bring selected to work the US Open for 12 years, I can assure you it really is no big deal. The pro ranks have more than their fair share of prima donnas, especially those dedicated to calling lines. Oh my, if they get assigned to a near sideline, then you wouldn't believe the complaining, cause that line is so far beneath them. Give me a break. A line is a line.
My point exactly. And on those rare occasions when we have one of the "pro folks" work an ITA event they are glaringly weak but more than their lack of job performance is their condescending attitudes.
The proof is in the pudding...
Randy, Some of us "line/ITA" officials just don't tell you we do lines. Figure out a way to get along, makes life easier.
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