Should Chris Evert and Pete Sampras have stadiums at the Us Open?

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Chadillac

Guest
We have Louis Armstrong, BJk and Ashe in the US. Austrialia names theirs after Laver and Court (two goats).

I personally think they should be named after the countries greatest players, not their social contributions.
 

Mr.Lob

G.O.A.T.
I'd like to see a single court named after the two greatest women's rivals in the history of the game... to be named Court Evert/Navratilova. A tribute that seems fitting, as these two goats were joined at the hip battling for slams most of their careers.
 
C

Chadillac

Guest
Take a stab it and say 2011 UO? Roddick complaining about court being damaged?

My interpretation was his only grand slam win. He got to practice on court one while in the qtrs, usta called him to let him know, lol.

Other matches were still in the 2nd round, lots of rain that year.
 

BTURNER

Legend
I don't think Evert wants it bad enough to see someone else lose theirs, but I do think when one reaches the Quarterfinals of 19 consecutive US Opens on three different surfaces, and the semifinals of 17 of the 19 total Opens one has played, on 3 different surfaces, its something to consider. If the same person reaches the finals of every Open but one from 1975- 1984 (lost her 1981 semi), and wins a total of 6 US OPens on two surfaces, that also suggests a worthy candidate. When the same woman has 101 victories and only 12 losses for an 88% career average from the age of 16 through 34 years its pretty clear she should be high on the list. Now if you want to ask if she represented her country with distinction as a criteria, well in Fed cup she played 42 singles and won 40 of them. In doubles she played 19 matches and won 17. In Wightman cup competition she played 26 matches and won them all.
 
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PDJ

G.O.A.T.
Chris Evert is the most deserving: she revolutionised tennis and represented The USA with dignity and grace over a long and distinguished career. Wasn't she known as Chris America?
I can see an argument for Serena Williams but surely the fact she was near as dammit disqualified one year at the USO make that an odd choice?
 
C

Chadillac

Guest
Chris Evert is the most deserving: she revolutionised tennis and represented The USA with dignity and grace over a long and distinguished career.

Pete kind of did the same, showed what an all court game can do (89 us is best shot selection ever), moving in or staying back. Worked both styles to perfection.

I often enjoy how chrissy makes it a point to mention how much she respects bjk and then says nothing, we all know what that means
 

PDJ

G.O.A.T.
Pete kind of did the same, showed what an all court game can do (89 us is best shot selection ever), moving in or staying back. Worked both styles to perfection.

I often enjoy how chrissy makes it a point to mention how much she respects bjk and then says nothing, we all know what that means
I can see that Sampras is deserving but there were all court games long before him. Evert made the two handed backhand the norm rather than the exception in the women's game, especially in America. I'm struggling to think of an American born woman that won a major with a one handed backhand that came after her?
 

PDJ

G.O.A.T.
BJK is an adulteress who killed an unborn child without the fathers consent.

You have to wonder why someone with less creditials is celebrated more than chrissy.

I dont like her in the booth, very bias, but much like wilander i listen.
Evert has had a colourful private life, but it doesn't detract from her on-court achievements and the sportsmanship she showed through out her career.
BJK is less celebrated as a tennis player now and more for her trail blazing.
Either are worthy.
A grey area is Margaret Court, the stadium named after her coupled with her views. She is far more controversial than either BJK or Evert.
In many ways, Evert or Sampras are 'safer choices. A court named after Williams or McEnroe would probably generate considerable controversy.
 

ibbi

G.O.A.T.
Yeah, probably. The King and Ashe things I think are fine, but Grandstand could use some sexier branding, and the Louis Armstrong thing is ridiculous. I love that guy as much as anyone, and okay... So he lived and died nearby in the stadiums early days... Still seems like honouring your greats of the game would be more fitting. Ditto Hisense in Australia (They're not even paying you anymore, you idiots. That's free advertising!) and the Bullring at Roland Garros.
 

Bartelby

Bionic Poster
The Bullring is set for demolition as an entry forecourt to the new roofed stadium ... very sad news!

Yeah, probably. The King and Ashe things I think are fine, but Grandstand could use some sexier branding, and the Louis Armstrong thing is ridiculous. I love that guy as much as anyone, and okay... So he lived and died nearby in the stadiums early days... Still seems like honouring your greats of the game would be more fitting. Ditto Hisense in Australia (They're not even paying you anymore, you idiots. That's free advertising!) and the Bullring at Roland Garros.
 

Gizo

Hall of Fame
On the men's side, despite forging an absolutely outstanding career and going down as one of the greatest players in history, I don't think that Sampras would ever deserve an accolade like this. He didn't really do anything the boost the popularity of tennis in his country. In fact during his prime years it declined it popularity from the Connors-Evert-McEnroe golden age. He wasn't a trail blazer and didn't do a whole lot to promote the sport.

Despite Connors's amazing US Open record and heroics, he doesn't deserve to have a stadium named after him at his national championships either, due to his lousy Davis Cup commitment during his career (he only played in 8 live singles rubbers, when every other open era great played in at least 20).

If this was purely restricted to US male open era greats, I actually think that McEnroe would be more worthy than either Sampras, Connors or Agassi, with his legendary Davis Cup record combined with his amazing US Open record. Of course imagine what that would do to his already huge ego !

Evert of course was huge for women's tennis and tennis in general, not just with her amazing achievements on-court, but with her huge star and crossover appeal. She contributed massively to making women's tennis popular. She is far more deserving of having a USO stadium named after her than any of those men's greats in my opinion.

She was also huge for the USO itself of course, attracting pack crowds on centre court match after match. I would argue that her popularity (as well as the obvious need for modernisation) was a major reason why the the tournament was relocated from Forest Hills to a bigger venue at Flushing Meadows in the first place.
 

PDJ

G.O.A.T.
I'd like to see a single court named after the two greatest women's rivals in the history of the game... to be named Court Evert/Navratilova. A tribute that seems fitting, as these two goats were joined at the hip battling for slams most of their careers.
I think Court Evert/Navratilova might be confusing! Given that the film 'The Madness of King George lll' was refererred to as 'The Madness of King George ' in America, dropping the 'lll' in case Americans thought it was the third film in a trilogy and they'd missed 1 & 2!!
Court Evert/Navratilova might give the impression it's named after 3 champions instead of 2! :) ;) :)
 

ollinger

G.O.A.T.
Naming things like tennis stadiums for people of great character, even if they have nothing to do with tennis, is an established and laudable tradition.....Roland Garros, for example.
 
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Deleted member 756486

Guest
Pistol Pete definitely deserves an arena named after him.
 

ollinger

G.O.A.T.
Pistol Pete definitely deserves an arena named after him.

you could make a better case for naming an arena after the Bryans, guys whose records still stand and may stand for a very long time, guys who could win slams on any surface unlike Pete the Unibrower, guys with personalities that make them great ambassadors for the game,........grandstand court, scene of so many late night doubles thrillers, could be the Bryan Bowl.
 
Still confused why Louis Armstrong has a tennis stadium named after him...
The stadium in the park was named for Louis Armstrong before flushing meadows corona park became the site of the us open tennis event. It was a large music venue.

Then in 1977 they made the one large, low, field-like structure (Louis Armstrong) into two adjoining (obviously) structures within one structure: the stadium and also the grandstand next to the stadium. It was odd, and it took some vision. And i am sure they saved some money doing this, rather than clearing land and building from scratchmo. So....
They built courts inside both, and several courts around it -- all for the 1978 US Open. They named the second court grandstand, because that is what they called the second feature court at the West side tennis club in nearby forest hills, queens, ny, where they held the us open for decades before the seventies tennis boom.
This new site was not as beautiful as west side tc, but it was big, and practical. And not without its challenges, noises, and odors...
It was a cool set up, because from the railings of louis Armstrong, you could look look down into the grandstand court. From the railings on the other side of louis Armstrong, you could look down into court 3. I was able to watch a lendl match on three while walking between the stadium and the concession stand to get a drink or an Italian ice.
Naming a court after a Jazz musician makes little sense.
Yup. It went the opposite way. They put a tennis tournament at a park that already had a stadium named for Satchmo. Local Legend, and internationally known figure.

Now, maybe there are some non tennis fans who go to a concert at RLA, and they wonder why a huge music venue is named for a former athlete.
 
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TheGhostOfAgassi

Talk Tennis Guru
The stadium in the park was named for Louis Armstrong before flushing meadows corona oark became the site of the us open tennis event. It was a large music venue.

Then in 1977 they made the one structure into two adjoining (obviously) structures within one structure: the stadium and also the grandstand next to the stadium. They built courts inside both, and several courts around it -- all for the 1978 US Open. They named the second court grandstand, because that is what they called the second court at the West side tennis club in nearby forest hills, queens, ny, where they held the us open for decades before the seventies tennis boom.
Not without its chalemges and odors...
It was a cool set up, because from the railings of louis Armstrong, you could look look down into the grandstand court. From the railings on the other side of louis Armstrong, you could look down into court 3. I was able to watch a lendl match on three while walking between the stadium and the concession stand to get a drink or an Italian ice.


Yup. It went the opposite way. They put a tennis tournament at a park that already had a stadium named for Satchmo.
Got to wonder if naming courts at all is a good idea. Will never get it right. Its something wrong with every player really :oops: Wimbledon doesnt have it, much easier.
 

diggler

Hall of Fame
If it was based on tennis ability, you would name it Sampras. But Arthur Ashe Stadium shows that it is not just about tennis ability. Andre Agassi has done more to educate under privileged kids that Sampras has ever done.
 

vex

Legend
We have Louis Armstrong, BJk and Ashe in the US. Austrialia names theirs after Laver and Court (two goats).

I personally think they should be named after the countries greatest players, not their social contributions.
Agassi Ampitheature imo
 
Little known fakt.
Wimbledon named No. 1 Court after my wife's cousin's great great grandfather, Mr. Number One Court. Big hitter in his day. "One" was his middle name.

Number Court was cousin to the great grandfather of the family of Barrymore Court, of New South Wales. Mr. Barrymore Court, in 1967, married a sheila called Margaret Smith (Maggie was a strong tennis player who won several tournament titles all over the world). We now know her as Margaret Court, for whom a court is named in Melbn Park.

Ok, kidding (half-kidding), but at this rate, people are going to name their kids things like Justice, Number, and DiVersatee.
And because of technology, so-chill media, and not-so-chill media, every famous person's reputation is going to be either so contrived or so bad, that it will trigger the masses if a venue is named for them.

So....no names. Just Number One Court, Number Two Court, Number Three Court, etc.
Then people will protest the use of the word, Court, because margaret smith court is so epically evil, right? So like, let's never call any basketball or tennis court a court. It is now a cancha or a pista. Or a grid. And naming rights go to the highest bidders.

Ok, if you'll excuse me, i am off to watch the 14u mixed dubs final of a National Open: Preston Jones / Crestyn Browne vs SeReno Wayans / DiVersatee Klass. It is scheduled on Grid 21 at the new Barbara Malia Bush Sportsplex sponsored by Baron Chelsea Trump casino and dance hall. It's across the Lincoln Navigator Tunnel just past MercedesBenz-MLK Blvd off the Amazon Freeway.
 
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Bartelby

Bionic Poster
The contract expired so now they have to decide what to do, but the Victorian Government is probably going to call it Melbourne Arena or Victoria Arena.

I didn't realise Hisense Arena was free advertising. Well that opens up another opportunity. Evonne Goolagong is an obvious choice.
 

JMR

Hall of Fame
Still confused why Louis Armstrong has a tennis stadium named after him.

Everyone in this thread seems to be unaware of the fact that Louis Armstrong lived in Queens for almost 30 years! He died as a Queens resident. He's a "favorite son" of the borough (his house is now a museum). If you're looking for a culturally and historically significant figure from your neighborhood to honor, you can't do better.
 
D

Deleted member 756486

Guest
you could make a better case for naming an arena after the Bryans, guys whose records still stand and may stand for a very long time, guys who could win slams on any surface unlike Pete the Unibrower, guys with personalities that make them great ambassadors for the game,........grandstand court, scene of so many late night doubles thrillers, could be the Bryan Bowl.
Sorry but no one cares about doubles.
 
Everyone in this thread seems to be unaware of the fact that Louis Armstrong lived in Queens for almost 30 years! He died as a Queens resident. He's a "favorite son" of the borough (his house is now a museum). If you're looking for a culturally and historically significant figure from your neighborhood to honor, you can't do better.
Truth. What a wonderful post. Read poast Number 34.
 

ScentOfDefeat

G.O.A.T.
How about no names at all for any court?
Surely they could see the problem a million miles away.
That is, the problem that there would be too many champions for very few main courts.

Wimbledon will never have that problem.
And no, it's not because they don't have as many champions, it's simply because they put the sport (which will go on) above its stars (who come and go).
 
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sureshs

Bionic Poster
Pete deserves a court named after him. Greatest American ever and Tier 1 ATG is more than enough to qualify.
Guy who doesn't have a Career slam should not be in the running.

Stadium should be named after greats like Serena or Agassi with career Slam. Even the Bryans

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sureshs

Bionic Poster
Don Budge with a Calendar Slam is a better candidate than Sampras with the big clay hole in his resume.

Also Bill Tilden from the pioneer viewpoint

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