AgassiSuperSlam11
Professional
Author Allen Hornblum in 2018 wrote a book that tried to correct some of the inaccuracies of one of the most beloved and later vilified American Sports heroes in “Big Bill” Tilden. The book tries to cover vast array of themes and subjects while having a peculiar and uneven execution of exposition, narrative, and focus. He does take swipes at Deford's 1975 book on Tilden.
John Newcombe writes the foreword stating that reading Tilden’s books helped developed his game and how he always remembered Tilden’s mantra on breaking down an opponent, “First attack his weakness and then go after his strength; the second one has more risk, but if it works you will destroy him.”
A young Tilden is described by the author as a kid born of wealth to a dad who was a prominent businessman in manufacturing mills and involved in politics and education in the Germantown and Philadelphia communities. Tilden Jr. fell in love with his brother’s racquet and would use it often until he broke a window in the family’s Catskills retreat (upstate NY mountainous area). After being told by his dad not to play Tennis anymore his mother intervened, and the young Tilden would go on to break many more windows. Before his birth the young Tilden had already lost 3 siblings due to various infirmities and eventually of course would lose both his parents and his elder brother who inspired him to play tennis. These horrific events if properly executed should invoke a visceral impact but instead one feels apathy to the description of these events. Tilden was home-schooled by his mom and certainly the closest person to him as he was at times introverted and aloof. Tilden himself would struggle with infirmities, infections, and boils that would result in collapsing after matches.
The author spends a good portion of the book on the business dealings of the dad who is not a major part of Tilden’s upbringing and development as a player. When given the opportunity to interject with his own assessment of a circumstance the Author seems to take a pass. For example, when describing the notorious plane accident in the 1920 US National Title match the author does a good job in detailing the scene how Tilden and Johnson kept playing despite a plane barely missing the venue and resulting in deaths. However, both players kept playing to avoid creating a panic and a likely stampede which would’ve likely caused more deaths. Perhaps the author could’ve simply added the calm response might be attributed to dealing with death in the past already prepared Tilden for these types of events.
In addition, the Author gives Tilden major kudos for his 1920 season as being the first American to win Wimbledon while, also winning the US National and Davis Cup. However, the author omits stating the overall record of Tilden that year which was 78-1 (old-timers correct if this is off). In fairness, he does describe the improvement of his BH wing being the catalyst to that dominance.
Although sexuality is not exactly the most significant topic on a sports biography it’s quite odd how the Author tackles the subject. Keep in mind this book is 2018 and not when Tilden wrote his autobiography nor when Deford wrote his book in 1975. The Author talks about how Tilden went to the Germantown Academy and wrote his favorite place was “being with girls who are easily entertained.” Tilden would later go to the prestigious Wharton School of Business. There is major trepidation by the author in trying to reconcile this ambiguity as one is confused if Tilden was deliberately trying to conceal his sexuality or was Tilden simply not exactly sure about his preference. Although I didn’t read the complete Deford book, we know from his SI articles that Tilden had a nephew called William Tilden III as his brother knew that Tilden was never going to have kids due to his sexuality. What is most peculiar is the author talks about German player Von Cramm and his sexuality which would’ve been a major problem as he was playing for **** Germany. However, Von Cramm confided to Tilden, “As long as I keep winning then Hitler won’t touch me.” Quite bizarre for an Author to leapfrog to another character outside of the subject of his work.
We know that Tilden had a finger amputated but the author at times states cut-off but then clarifies the finger was cut off up to the second joint. When discussing an arm surgery that Tilden will have toward the later in his career the author fails to get more specific was this a Rotator Cuff Tear (most likely) or a Partial Tear of the Supraspinatus Tendon? Please some more details.
Tilden was certainly a pioneer in the liberation of Tennis players being able to earn money outside of the sport through publishing, tennis equipment contracts, Cinema, Plays, and endorsement deals outside of the sport. However, the author spends a disproportionate amount of time with this subject which goes on and on. He does a better job with the Suzanne Lenglen circumstance as she explained why amateur players were getting swindled as rich club owners made most of the profits. This editorial decision is in comparison to the Author’s discussion of Tilden’s prison sentences. The author was a former Criminal Justice Administrator and could’ve given a comparative history about the collective 18 months Tilden served in prison for both of his convictions. I would expect more than a few pages on this topic especially when the book is nearly 500 pages, and the criminal justice system is the author’s “Wheelhouse.” Unfortunately, the incident and Tilden’s time in the Penal Farm (he did mainly kitchen and farm labor) gets warp zone coverage. The facility that Tilden served his sentence was much better than going to San Quentin or the LA gang-infested prisons (this is the author's offering). Tilden actually served 7.5 months for his first conviction (given 9 months and probation for 5 years) and 10.5 months for his second conviction (sentenced to 1 year). The sentencing judge telling Tilden the second time, “Society is doing you a favor by sending you to jail because someone might be tempted to shoot you.” The author argues contrary to some beliefs Tilden was not completely cancelled after his convictions although he did lose his deal with Dunlop who made a signature “Tilden” racquet.
Lastly, there is no major appendix of stats which is expected with this type of sports biography. Of course, there are online sources for this but still another bizarre admission not to include the list of tournaments the subject won in his entire career.
Tilden is rightfully portrayed as both an innovator and visionary of the sport who accurately predicted that Grass would become a less prominent surface and that the best baseliner would defeat the Serve and Volleyer. The book does have some great photographs of both players and Hollywood celebs who associated with Tilden.
What is also well executed is the discussion of the “Four French Musketeers” and his great matches with them. Namely, his epic controversial FO Final match with Rene “Croc Shirt” Lacoste who failed to come back on the court on time and never was defaulted and seem to get some home court calls on match points. Yet, Lacoste himself said about Tilden, “He is the best tactician ever…The force and twist of his service makes it the best singles service ever seen…Against a slice serve he uses a topped drive, against a sliced drive he volleys , against a chopped return he serves a slice, he shows the objective manner of winning and rules of battle are within the minds and that is perhaps the most interesting aspect of the art and science of lawn tennis.”
Overall give the book 6 out of 10.
John Newcombe writes the foreword stating that reading Tilden’s books helped developed his game and how he always remembered Tilden’s mantra on breaking down an opponent, “First attack his weakness and then go after his strength; the second one has more risk, but if it works you will destroy him.”
A young Tilden is described by the author as a kid born of wealth to a dad who was a prominent businessman in manufacturing mills and involved in politics and education in the Germantown and Philadelphia communities. Tilden Jr. fell in love with his brother’s racquet and would use it often until he broke a window in the family’s Catskills retreat (upstate NY mountainous area). After being told by his dad not to play Tennis anymore his mother intervened, and the young Tilden would go on to break many more windows. Before his birth the young Tilden had already lost 3 siblings due to various infirmities and eventually of course would lose both his parents and his elder brother who inspired him to play tennis. These horrific events if properly executed should invoke a visceral impact but instead one feels apathy to the description of these events. Tilden was home-schooled by his mom and certainly the closest person to him as he was at times introverted and aloof. Tilden himself would struggle with infirmities, infections, and boils that would result in collapsing after matches.
The author spends a good portion of the book on the business dealings of the dad who is not a major part of Tilden’s upbringing and development as a player. When given the opportunity to interject with his own assessment of a circumstance the Author seems to take a pass. For example, when describing the notorious plane accident in the 1920 US National Title match the author does a good job in detailing the scene how Tilden and Johnson kept playing despite a plane barely missing the venue and resulting in deaths. However, both players kept playing to avoid creating a panic and a likely stampede which would’ve likely caused more deaths. Perhaps the author could’ve simply added the calm response might be attributed to dealing with death in the past already prepared Tilden for these types of events.
In addition, the Author gives Tilden major kudos for his 1920 season as being the first American to win Wimbledon while, also winning the US National and Davis Cup. However, the author omits stating the overall record of Tilden that year which was 78-1 (old-timers correct if this is off). In fairness, he does describe the improvement of his BH wing being the catalyst to that dominance.
Although sexuality is not exactly the most significant topic on a sports biography it’s quite odd how the Author tackles the subject. Keep in mind this book is 2018 and not when Tilden wrote his autobiography nor when Deford wrote his book in 1975. The Author talks about how Tilden went to the Germantown Academy and wrote his favorite place was “being with girls who are easily entertained.” Tilden would later go to the prestigious Wharton School of Business. There is major trepidation by the author in trying to reconcile this ambiguity as one is confused if Tilden was deliberately trying to conceal his sexuality or was Tilden simply not exactly sure about his preference. Although I didn’t read the complete Deford book, we know from his SI articles that Tilden had a nephew called William Tilden III as his brother knew that Tilden was never going to have kids due to his sexuality. What is most peculiar is the author talks about German player Von Cramm and his sexuality which would’ve been a major problem as he was playing for **** Germany. However, Von Cramm confided to Tilden, “As long as I keep winning then Hitler won’t touch me.” Quite bizarre for an Author to leapfrog to another character outside of the subject of his work.
We know that Tilden had a finger amputated but the author at times states cut-off but then clarifies the finger was cut off up to the second joint. When discussing an arm surgery that Tilden will have toward the later in his career the author fails to get more specific was this a Rotator Cuff Tear (most likely) or a Partial Tear of the Supraspinatus Tendon? Please some more details.
Tilden was certainly a pioneer in the liberation of Tennis players being able to earn money outside of the sport through publishing, tennis equipment contracts, Cinema, Plays, and endorsement deals outside of the sport. However, the author spends a disproportionate amount of time with this subject which goes on and on. He does a better job with the Suzanne Lenglen circumstance as she explained why amateur players were getting swindled as rich club owners made most of the profits. This editorial decision is in comparison to the Author’s discussion of Tilden’s prison sentences. The author was a former Criminal Justice Administrator and could’ve given a comparative history about the collective 18 months Tilden served in prison for both of his convictions. I would expect more than a few pages on this topic especially when the book is nearly 500 pages, and the criminal justice system is the author’s “Wheelhouse.” Unfortunately, the incident and Tilden’s time in the Penal Farm (he did mainly kitchen and farm labor) gets warp zone coverage. The facility that Tilden served his sentence was much better than going to San Quentin or the LA gang-infested prisons (this is the author's offering). Tilden actually served 7.5 months for his first conviction (given 9 months and probation for 5 years) and 10.5 months for his second conviction (sentenced to 1 year). The sentencing judge telling Tilden the second time, “Society is doing you a favor by sending you to jail because someone might be tempted to shoot you.” The author argues contrary to some beliefs Tilden was not completely cancelled after his convictions although he did lose his deal with Dunlop who made a signature “Tilden” racquet.
Lastly, there is no major appendix of stats which is expected with this type of sports biography. Of course, there are online sources for this but still another bizarre admission not to include the list of tournaments the subject won in his entire career.
Tilden is rightfully portrayed as both an innovator and visionary of the sport who accurately predicted that Grass would become a less prominent surface and that the best baseliner would defeat the Serve and Volleyer. The book does have some great photographs of both players and Hollywood celebs who associated with Tilden.
What is also well executed is the discussion of the “Four French Musketeers” and his great matches with them. Namely, his epic controversial FO Final match with Rene “Croc Shirt” Lacoste who failed to come back on the court on time and never was defaulted and seem to get some home court calls on match points. Yet, Lacoste himself said about Tilden, “He is the best tactician ever…The force and twist of his service makes it the best singles service ever seen…Against a slice serve he uses a topped drive, against a sliced drive he volleys , against a chopped return he serves a slice, he shows the objective manner of winning and rules of battle are within the minds and that is perhaps the most interesting aspect of the art and science of lawn tennis.”
Overall give the book 6 out of 10.
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