Chris Evert classic interview

[Riosfan]

I think all male tennis fans loved Chris Evert. She is the one who actually sparked my interest in the sport at around age 8, my family was in Boston for my dad's business trip and we were in the hotel lobby and parents pointed out Chris Evert and said she was a famous tennis player. me and my bro went over and I didn't know what tennis was at the time, but she was so nice and friendly to us and then years later when I became aware of tennis all I could remember was how beautiful and nice she was, so started liking her and following her.

All Evert fans will enjoy this QA:

http://thebiofile.com/2010/04/classic-biofile-with-chris-evert/

 

[borg number one]

Thanks RiosFan. She was my favorite female player in the late 1970's-early 1980's. She was pretty and everything, but I thought her Tennis and the way she played it made her absolutely beautiful. She had much more "grit" than it may appear and she was all class out on the Court. I love the photo in the interview. I'll post it in a couple of the "hottest" threads soon if you don't mind.

 

[Riosfan]

Sure Borg#1, you can post that photo and the interview link, spread the beauty!

Yeah she was very attractive, i really liked her from that minute or so in Boston that morning, how kind she was to us, I remember we all had the same color hair yellow blond. Liked her in person and then of course how she looked on court, yes that's a fine point, her tennis made her even more attractive. so feminine yet so dominant at the same time.

It's good to see she still has a voice in tennis with her monthly columns as publisher for Tennis magazine.

 

[borg number one]

Very true. She's smart and well-spoken too. I really like how she analyzes the Game. She's one of my favorite TV commentators as well on the Women's side, but she knows her stuff about the Men's game too. You're lucky you got to meet her back then. That's so cool.

 

[pc1]

Riosfan,

Nice interview and it's nice to know that Evert influenced you in such a positive way. It's amusing to find out that the first car she ever had was a car that she won at a tennis tournament. lol.

 

[kiki]

" I´ve been on court with Chrissie enough times to know that she can match vocabularies with John (Mc Enroe) any time" (Jimmy Connors, 1981 Wimbledon).

 

[BTURNER]

I want to know what Connolly said about her game.

 

[kiki]

I want to know what Connolly said about her game.

Chris would be the perfect practice partner, making you play your best, concentrate a lot , move and move and yet she wouldn´t - normally- outhit you.

 

[robow7]

" I´ve been on court with Chrissie enough times to know that she can match vocabularies with John (Mc Enroe) any time" (Jimmy Connors, 1981 Wimbledon).

Yea, I read from a couple of women on the tour that sweet sweet Chrissy probably enjoyed telling the dirtiest jokes of anyone. They all stated that she had several different persona, one on the court, one in front of the camera and one when she let her hair down with her friends.

 

[Limpinhitter]

Does anyone remember when Chris Evert hosted SNL and that skit where she talked about "the little gnome that guards the cave?" :shock:

Here's the promo: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pGkGvU3C9n4

 

[Joe Pike]

... can curse and tell stories that will make a sailor blush. No secret she has a reputation as a maneater ...

Both is not exactly classy.
But an interesting person she was.

 

[Marton]

I really like how she analyzes the Game. She's one of my favorite TV commentators as well on the Women's side, but she knows her stuff about the Men's game too. Good Luck

 

[Moose Malloy]

I want to know what Connolly said about her game.

Connolly died in 1969, at the age of 34. I'm guessing she never saw Evert play.

 

[gpt]

From the article linked by the OP

Early Tennis Memory: “I was at a clinic with Maureen Connolly when I was 10. I got to hit with her. She commented on my game in front of everyone. That left a big impression on me. It motivated me even more to get involved in tennis.”

 

[BTURNER]

Connolly died in 1969, at the age of 34. I'm guessing she never saw Evert play.

You are guessing wrong Moose, She never saw a mature Evert play. I don't think Chris would be mistaken or lie on about a fact like this. See the article.

 

[Marton]

I really like how she analyzes the Game. She's one of my favorite TV commentators as well on the Women's side, but she knows her stuff about the Men's game too. Good Luck

los angeles arts and craft

 

[BTURNER]

los angeles arts and craft

WHat does a Georgia O'Keefe painting ad in West Coast Community Mag link have to do with the post or the topic?

 

[kiki]

I´ll say this about Chris Evert, and I think it´s the highest tribute I can pay to an sportsman(woman): I got, sometimes,bored and tired of her dominance in the middle to late 70´s, but when she ever lost a match, then and later, she was the classiest act.gave her opponent all the credit and seldom used a single excuse.Her habits were of the highest class and I respect her so much just for that.Graf,Martina,the Williams were not that same breed.

 

[Joe Pike]

I´ll say this about Chris Evert, and I think it´s the highest tribute I can pay to an sportsman(woman): I got, sometimes,bored and tired of her dominance in the middle to late 70´s, but when she ever lost a match, then and later, she was the classiest act.gave her opponent all the credit and seldom used a single excuse.Her habits were of the highest class and I respect her so much just for that.Graf,Martina,the Williams were not that same breed.

At least Graf didn't tell dirty jokes and was no "man-eater" ...

 

[Joe Pike]

Nah all Graf did was not pay her taxes and did little to nothing to support or grow WTA and the tour that made her rich, about as interesting as a box of rocks as well.
What's the matter? Do we have issues with a strong, confident successful woman who overcame domineering males in her early life? ...

If Evert's dad had managed her taxes and not paid enough Chris would not have realized it either.
Or do you disagree?

Graf supported the WTA tour in the USA about 50 times as much as Evert supported the WTA tour in Germany.
What did Evert ever do in Germany to promote the game? Right - zero.

Graf drew more people to women's tennis during her career than Navratilova and Evert combined. Why do you think she was the most popular female tennis player ever?

 

[robow7]

Graf drew more people to women's tennis during her career than Navratilova and Evert combined. Why do you think she was the most popular female tennis player ever?

I find that dubious at best. True, she will forever be known as one of the very best to ever play the game but it wasn't her persona that brought people into the game. Always felt she was much like Sampras for the men's game in that regard.

 

[Joe Pike]

I find that dubious at best. True, she will forever be known as one of the very best to ever play the game but it wasn't her persona that brought people into the game. Always felt she was much like Sampras for the men's game in that regard.

It was her way of playing tennis that drew people to the game.
Athletic but still very feminine. Unique.

Today she still so immensely popular because of her character and charisma, not although but exactly BECAUSE she is a shy and modest person. In Germany she has developed - 12 years after her retirement and although she lives abroad - into the country's most popular woman.

 

[robow7]

Interesting take, funny thing, I've always felt it was a great rivalry that brought people to the game (especially contrasting persona and/or styles of play) and rarely a single individual. Think:

Laver-Rosewall
Connors-Borg
Borg-McEnroe
Sampras-Agassi
Nadal-Federer
Chrissy-Martina

and so on.

 

[Joe Pike]

Interesting take, funny thing, I've always felt it was a great rivalry that brought people to the game (especially contrasting persona and/or styles of play) and rarely a single individual. Think:

Laver-Rosewall
Connors-Borg
Borg-McEnroe
Sampras-Agassi
Nadal-Federer
Chrissy-Martina

and so on.

Women's tennis was limited to the US, the UK and maybe Australia until the mid-80s. There was almost zero interest elsewhere.
That changed with Graf. With her women's tennis went global.

 

[suwanee4712]

If Evert's dad had managed her taxes and not paid enough Chris would not have realized it either.
Or do you disagree?

Graf supported the WTA tour in the USA about 50 times as much as Evert supported the WTA tour in Germany.
What did Evert ever do in Germany to promote the game? Right - zero.

Graf drew more people to women's tennis during her career than Navratilova and Evert combined. Why do you think she was the most popular female tennis player ever?

Yes, Chris would've known about it because Chris, as busy as she was, was actively involved in the business side of things.

Chris DID support the WTA tour in Germany playing the German Open many times when other top stars did not support the event which was played in a run down facility because the German tennis federation did NOTHING to support themselves except file false doping accusations against other top players when their players lost matches.

I'm not sure what group of people Graf pulled into the game. I'm sure she created many new tennis fans. But she's not exactly remembered by tennis fans as "inspirational."

 

[Joe Pike]

Yes, Chris would've known about it because Chris, as busy as she was, was actively involved in the business side of things.

Chris DID support the WTA tour in Germany playing the German Open many times when other top stars did not support the event which was played in a run down facility because the German tennis federation did NOTHING to support themselves except file false doping accusations against other top players when their players lost matches.

I'm not sure what group of people Graf pulled into the game. I'm sure she created many new tennis fans. But she's not exactly remembered by tennis fans as "inspirational."

Chris would not have understood international taxation rules. Maybe she would have been clever enough to hire a professional tax advisory firm, I give you that.

Chris played the German Open in 1983 and 1985. But it was not played in a "run-down facility" but in the high-society Grunewald club "Rot-Weiss".

Steffi was so inspirational that her fans had a world-wide fan club (SGISC).
Even years after her retirement they displayed posters at the FO with "Steffi, we miss you!".
What about Chris ... ?

 

[suwanee4712]

Chris would not have understood international taxation rules. Maybe she would have been clever enough to hire a professional tax advisory firm, I give you that.

Chris played the German Open in 1983 and 1985. But it was not played in a "run-down facility" but in the high-society Grunewald club "Rot-Weiss".

Steffi was so inspirational that her fans had a world-wide fan club (SGISC).
Even years after her retirement they displayed posters at the FO with "Steffi, we miss you!".
What about Chris ... ?

The club itself might have been nice for its members. But the facility itself wasn't a hit with the players in the 70's. On top of that it was very small hardly seating even 3,000 people. The weather was usually damp and cold and the atmosphere was frequently described as "dour." These factors did not conspire to make for a popular event even amongst the Europeans who preferred to play the Italian instead.

What about Chris? Most stars of that time have/had fan clubs. Many of which are still operational. My guess is that those that don't have blinders on for one player or another probably notice the same things.

 

[Joe Pike]

The club itself might have been nice for its members. But the facility itself wasn't a hit with the players in the 70's. On top of that it was very small hardly seating even 3,000 people. The weather was usually damp and cold and the atmosphere was frequently described as "dour." ...

LOL!
You are fantasizing. Or should I say projecting ... ?

BTW, so Chris Evert "promoted" tennis in Germany by playing in Berlin in 1983 and 1985. But let's be honest - you don't give a **** about tennis in Germany, do you? By "supporting" and "promoting" you mean of course "in the USA". What else? And this cold German bit.ch didn't do that enough ...

 

[suwanee4712]

LOL!
You are fantasizing. Or should I say projecting ... ?

BTW, so Chris Evert "promoted" tennis in Germany by playing in Berlin in 1983 and 1985. But let's be honest - you don't give a **** about tennis in Germany, do you? By "supporting" and "promoting" you mean of course "in the USA". What else? And this cold German bit.ch didn't do that enough ...

You've been carrying on a serious case of Anglophobia for the past 6 or 7 years that you've been on this site under your various screen names. So it's not surprising to see you come onto a thread about Chris Evert and make your Graf-assertions.

I'm not one of Chris' fans. All of my favorites happen to be European. But if you think that Chris and Martina didn't do their part to promote tennis in Europe by playing tournaments there that sometimes they didn't even want to play because of how poorly they were run or because of their chauvenistic attitudes, then you're doing more denying than I am fantasizing. Your fanaticism impairs your judgement. I'm just keeping it real.

Tennis is a global game, not an American or European one. Always has been, always will be. However, I think its fair to say that thanks to some key American players (amongst other European, Australian, etc. players) like Chris, Martina, and BJK Steffi was allowed to make a very nice living by playing the sport that she loved. Steffi would tell you that herself. Perhaps only then you would believe it.

 

[BTURNER]

With all respect, you guys are giving him what he craves. An addiction to attention led to the creation of this 'persona' on this site and every 'hit' you provide in your replies, maintains and supports both habits.

 

[Limpinhitter]

With all respect, you guys are giving him what he craves. An addiction to attention led to the creation of this 'persona' on this site and every 'hit' you provide in your replies, maintains and supports both habits.

I think Steffi Graf would be well advised to apply for a restraining order.

 

[BTURNER]

I think Steffi Graf would be well advised to apply for a restraining order.

You are assuming that he is anything like his 'creation' . Maybe he does not give a rat's ass about Steffi Graf anymore than any other actor who has researched a role he is playing. Maybe here he is playing a soap opera character.

 

[Frank Silbermann]

Women's tennis was limited to the US, the UK and maybe Australia until the mid-80s. There was almost zero interest elsewhere.
That changed with Graf. With her women's tennis went global.

Well, even with just the US, the UK and Australia, you've pretty much covered most of the world anyway.

 

[Joe Pike]

You've been carrying on a serious case of Anglophobia for the past 6 or 7 years that you've been on this site under your various screen names. So it's not surprising to see you come onto a thread about Chris Evert and make your Graf-assertions. ...

Just reread this thread.
How Graf was insulted. How you insulted the German Open.
Some of you are so arrogant that they don't even realize how they insult foreign countries and foreigners. I would react the same way if French or Spanish people would behave like that. But they don't.

 

[Limpinhitter]

Just reread this thread.
How Graf was insulted. How you insulted the German Open.
Some of you are so arrogant that they don't even realize how they insult foreign countries and foreigners. I would react the same way if French or Spanish people would behave like that. But they don't.

Just because you are paranoid doesn't mean they're NOT out to get you. :shock:

 

[Dedans Penthouse]

At least,
Graf didn't tell dirty jokes and was no "man-eater" ...

No, Graf was an "ant-eater"

I kill myself...lmao..

 

[Dedans Penthouse]

Just reread this thread.
How Graf was insulted. How you insulted the German Open.

The German Open has been "insulted?!"


Joe Pike posts are gold, absolute gold!!!

 

[Joe Pike]

I had tongue firmly in cheek until this statement. You are so off base - yes the Virgina Slims was a US based tour but I was at plenty of events in France and Italy and Spain in the 70's that were followed daily and paid attention too. The success of the womens game comes from the work done by players like King, Wade, Durr, Evert, Casals and Gladys Heldman in the early 70's. No player male nor Female did more (heck continue to do more) for the sport and grow it than Billie Jean.

Graf was strongly condemned by many in the game (Chris and Martina and others) and the press for doing nothing to "help" the sport. ...

Outside of the USA?
I doubt that ...
Graf threatened US superiority in female tennis. She was a threat to the establishment. Which lashed out at her.

Steffi did more for tennis than BJK - even without really trying.
Simply playing her tennis was enough. People liked that.

 

[Joe Pike]

Well, even with just the US, the UK and Australia, you've pretty much covered most of the world anyway.

In the mid-40s perhaps.
Australia is less important than Indonesia today, the UK is not even in the first league in Europe, and the US lags behind the Euro zone in almost every economic department.
And I'm not even talking of sports ...

 

[Joe Pike]

The German Open has been "insulted?!"


Joe Pike posts are gold, absolute gold!!!

Thanks.

I always got the impression that you didn't like my posts.
Especially when the USA is put into perspective. Or let's say US superiority in sports.

 

[suwanee4712]

The German Open has been "insulted?!"


Joe Pike posts are gold, absolute gold!!!

Yes, I'm not sure how one could "insult" the German Open. But consider the source of that comment. The fact remains after a disasterous 1984 tournament financially speaking had Evert and Navratilova not committed to playing Berlin in 1985 and 1986 the tournament would've folded just like the once prestigious South African Open once did.

 

[Dedans Penthouse]

Thanks.

I always got the impression that you didn't like my posts.
Especially when the USA is put into perspective. Or let's say US superiority in sports.

What I don't like is enthnocentrism masquarading as self-rightiousness. To put it into "perspective" it can serve as a mustard seed to more sinister, darker "der solutions" if you get my drift. That said, you do not put things "USA" into perspective so much as you spin and distort for the purpose of serving your xenophobic, Teutonic-Steffi agenda...and it's as clear as the magnificent 'schnozzla' of a shark fin that sits between Steffi's baby blue peepers. Take your previous post above: what "lashed out at her" examples by 'the US establishment' can you cite? That's not offering "perspective." That's paranoid hallucination a la "Monsters!!!..I see monsters, monsters EVERYWHERE!!"


But more to the point: as previous called on it by a slew of other posters, this thread is about Chris Evert. Figuratively speaking, you're the untrained dog that barges into Chris Evert's living room and promptly--and for no good reason--lays "Steffi Graf" crap all over the carpet while claiming "perspective." Take your Steffi ball with you and go play elsewhere--this thread is not about the Teutonic Toucan.


"Bitte um ihre aufmerksamkeit!!....Wo ist Chris Evert??"

 

[Joe Pike]

Yes, I'm not sure how one could "insult" the German Open. But consider the source of that comment. The fact remains after a disasterous 1984 tournament financially speaking had Evert and Navratilova not committed to playing Berlin in 1985 and 1986 the tournament would've folded ...

LOL, you are fantasizing again.

In 1984 the Berlin tournament had 11 of the top 25 player - plus 14-year-old wunderkind Steffi Graf (who made the quarters). German Claudia Kohde won the title. But the best is yet to come - they had RECORDS crowds that year, bigger than ever before (24,000).

In 1985 Steffi Graf was already the star. She made the finals but lost 46 57 to Evert. 9 of the top 25 were present, no Navratilova. 30,000 spectators (bigger stadium).

In 1986 #2 seed Steffi beat Navratilova with 62 63 in the final. 37,000 spectators. 9 of the top 25 players, no Evert.

Evert and Navratilova didn't return. They were afraid.
That's it with "Evert and Navratilova promoted tennis in Germany".

No comparison to what Steffi did for US tennis ...

 

[NadalAgassi]

Joe Pike, I have a question for you. Do you consider Steffi Graf the best player of all time not just overall but the best all time on every surface too. Or are there any surfaces you consider her not quite the best, like 2nd best to Chris on clay, or 2nd best to Martina on grass or carpet, or below someone on hard courts.

 

[Joe Pike]

What I don't like is enthnocentrism masquarading as self-rightiousness. ...

THAT from you!
Priceless!!!

...
But more to the point: as previous called on it by a slew of other posters, this thread is about Chris Evert. ...

That US girl who had "10 times more class than Graf", as some (U.S.) poster here claimed ... ?

 

[Joe Pike]

Joe Pike, I have a question for you. Do you consider Steffi Graf the best player of all time not just overall but the best all time on every surface too. Or are there any surfaces you consider her not quite the best, like 2nd best to Chris on clay, or 2nd best to Martina on grass or carpet, or below someone on hard courts.

Ouch, that is difficult.
I don't see anyone who was or is better than Graf on any surface.
Henin on clay perhaps ... ?
Maybe Court on grass (but I never saw her play!)?

 

[Joe Pike]

Greatest Post Ever!

Thanks!
But which one do you mean?

 

[NadalAgassi]

Ouch, that is difficult.
I don't see anyone who was or is better than Graf on any surface.
Henin on clay perhaps ... ?
Maybe Court on grass (but I never saw her play!)?

What do you think about Evert vs Graf on clay? Or Navratilova vs Graf on carpet. (I dont ask about grass since I already recall you saying you believe Graf is better than Martina there).

 

[Joe Pike]

What do you think about Evert vs Graf on clay? Or Navratilova vs Graf on carpet. (I dont ask about grass since I already recall you saying you believe Graf is better than Martina there).

16-year-old Steffi beat Evert on clay in April 1986 and never lost to Chris again.

I don't even think that Evert is among the top 3 clay-court players of all time (that would be Graf, Henin, Seles). Chris Evert was a shrewd tactician for sure, we would call her a "pusher" today.

 

[NadalAgassi]

I agree Graf and Seles playing their best would beat Chris on clay in their mutual primes. They would just have too much raw power and shotmaking ability, with enough grinding ability, consistency, and mental toughness to go with it. What is most amazing about Chris though is she kept her clay court best for about 15 years though (that is true on other surfaces too, but obviously clay it was a more dominant level).