A couple of years ago, my team faced a former NFL player (who stood 6’5 and looked like Del Potro) at 3.5 Nationals. While he and his partner crushed us, and he also played at 7.0 MXD Nationals that year, it wasn’t like he went undefeated as a 3.5 self rate. He was definitely playing at 4.0 level by the end of his first year, but not sure he will progress beyond that level.
I’ve also played against a 6’9 former D1 basketball player who was drafted by an NBA team. He didn’t pick up tennis until he was about 50 years old and had bum knees, so he will probably peak as an average 4.0, unfortunately.
This got me thinking... how would some of the top players from other sports fare in tennis? I’ve heard of OJ playing lots of tennis in his Brentwood heyday, not far removed from his NFL prime. But it seemed he had competitive tennis matches with the likes of sportscaster Al Michaels; not sure what NTRP level that would have been.
Assume every professional athlete has to join a USTA league in the year they retire from their primary sport. Who are the players you think would fare the best and/or be the most intriguing? Here are three that come to my mind.
(1) Wilt Chamberlain. The 7’1 behometh was a freak of nature, dominating track & field (becoming one of the best in the world at 110 meter hurdles and high jump) before deciding to make his living playing basketball. He had phenomenal endurance (playing every minute of an NBA season), strength, and hand-eye coordination (even joining the pro volleyball circuit after retiring from the NBA). He was 36 when he retired from basketball. He’d make a helluva doubles partner; I’d love to see someone try to lob when Wilt is at net. Could be reach 5.0 as a dubs player?
(2) Kobe Bryant. The 6’6 NBA star was 37 when he retired. He had amazing footwork and work ethic, along with world-class athleticism (his father and uncle were both NBA players). Despite his Achilles injury, I believe that if he wanted to, Kobe could will himself into becoming a top Texas 3.5 player because he is such a student of the game.
(3) Danny Ainge. There are some other cross-sport stars, but I’d like to see how Danny Ainge would do in USTA league tennis. He was one of the first athletes to have played in two professional sports leagues (Major League Baseball and the NBA). Danny is also a very good golfer. His hand-eye coordination, competitiveness, and ability to assemble teams and identify untapped potential of up and coming players (he’s the GM of the Celtics) would make 6’5 Danny Ainge someone I’d like to have seen take USTA league seriously when he retired from basketball at age 36.
Who you got on your squad?
I’ve also played against a 6’9 former D1 basketball player who was drafted by an NBA team. He didn’t pick up tennis until he was about 50 years old and had bum knees, so he will probably peak as an average 4.0, unfortunately.
This got me thinking... how would some of the top players from other sports fare in tennis? I’ve heard of OJ playing lots of tennis in his Brentwood heyday, not far removed from his NFL prime. But it seemed he had competitive tennis matches with the likes of sportscaster Al Michaels; not sure what NTRP level that would have been.
Assume every professional athlete has to join a USTA league in the year they retire from their primary sport. Who are the players you think would fare the best and/or be the most intriguing? Here are three that come to my mind.
(1) Wilt Chamberlain. The 7’1 behometh was a freak of nature, dominating track & field (becoming one of the best in the world at 110 meter hurdles and high jump) before deciding to make his living playing basketball. He had phenomenal endurance (playing every minute of an NBA season), strength, and hand-eye coordination (even joining the pro volleyball circuit after retiring from the NBA). He was 36 when he retired from basketball. He’d make a helluva doubles partner; I’d love to see someone try to lob when Wilt is at net. Could be reach 5.0 as a dubs player?
(2) Kobe Bryant. The 6’6 NBA star was 37 when he retired. He had amazing footwork and work ethic, along with world-class athleticism (his father and uncle were both NBA players). Despite his Achilles injury, I believe that if he wanted to, Kobe could will himself into becoming a top Texas 3.5 player because he is such a student of the game.
(3) Danny Ainge. There are some other cross-sport stars, but I’d like to see how Danny Ainge would do in USTA league tennis. He was one of the first athletes to have played in two professional sports leagues (Major League Baseball and the NBA). Danny is also a very good golfer. His hand-eye coordination, competitiveness, and ability to assemble teams and identify untapped potential of up and coming players (he’s the GM of the Celtics) would make 6’5 Danny Ainge someone I’d like to have seen take USTA league seriously when he retired from basketball at age 36.
Who you got on your squad?