Answer honestly, is Tilden just a footnote in the US tennis spectrum due to his personal rantings?Connors represents the US Open most.
It wouldn't surprise me. Although at the time, it was more scandalous that Tilden's lover was male than underage, the exact opposite of what it would be today.Answer honestly, is Tilden just a footnote in the US tennis spectrum due to his personal rantings?
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If it weren't for that, of the American tennis players in the Open Era, only Sampras could be compared to him, don't you think?It wouldn't surprise me. Although at the time, it was more scandalous that Tilden's lover was male than underage, the exact opposite of what it would be today.
'flushing mcenroe' has a nice ring to it...
Reminds me that today is Thomas Crapper Day, the anniversary of the death of Mr. Crapper in 1910. This day honors his achievement of perfecting the modern float-valve toilet mechanism that still serves us today.He's affectionately known as 'Flusher' in tennis circles.
Connors had the character of what the US Open is all about, and he won as many US Open titles as Sampras.If it weren't for that, of the American tennis players in the Open Era, only Sampras could be compared to him, don't you think?
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Connors represents the US Open most.
And a stadium court for his brother, Colin JohnsBen Johns
Those guys are all too close (Jmac, Sampras, conners, Agassi). You make a stadium for one what about the others. Then it’s a question of who gets the biggest stadium? Easier to not open up the can of worms.
I like the names they have chosen now, because they are people not just remembered for what they did on court
Agassi was the pre-match favourite for all 4 of his US Open matches against Sampras, and lost all 4.Sampras shroud have the “Pete Sampras Agassi spanking court”.
Honestly when I made this post I had gotten confused and thought the other stadium was named after Billie JeanArmstrong is criminal tho
Did he ever swing a racquet in his life?
Armstrong said a number of times he preferred the hard "ess" pronounced rather than "Lou-eee"Pronouncing Louis "Lou-hiss" is very New York City compared to the Louisiana "Lou-e".
Honestly when I made this post I had gotten confused and thought the other stadium was named after Billie Jean
Yah, you can make the case for him over Sampras on that point. He was probably more consistent at the USO than Pete over a longer period too? But it may be close even then. But you also have Evert and Serena who would be worthy. Louis Armstrong's name on a stadium I always found odd. You could easily name that one after Connors w/out much fuss.Connors had the character of what the US Open is all about, and he won as many US Open titles as Sampras.
Alright I vote Williams for that one she is greater than any American male playersBJK Tennis Center = fine. Ashe = fine. But Armstrong has no connection to tennis whatsoever, he just lived nearby.
Well, it’s already BJK grounds…….give a US male great his do.Alright I vote Williams for that one she is greater than any American male players
but the men already have Ashe - its 1-1 men-women right now so adding another will break the tie either way. If Williams is too polarizing, I would say Mconroe. Sampras doesn't do as much for the gameWell, it’s already BJK grounds…….give a US male great his do.
In terms of open era legends from the US, maybe Evert is more worthy of this accolade than any of the men.
She was generally huge for women's tennis and tennis in general, and was a major contributor to the golden age of tennis popularity in the US and also the worldwide tennis boom; she definitely made women's tennis more popular with her huge star and crossover appeal. She attracted packed crowds on centre court at Forest Hills match after match, and it could be argued that her popularity alongside the clear need for modernisation, was a major reason by the US Open moved from Forest Hills to the bigger Flushing Meadows venue in the first place.
I think you might be onto something here. Evert would be most likely.
She’s got the perfect mixture of towering achievements in the game, name recognition, very much still a public figure, and has endeared herself to the decision-makers. Like you say, she was also a key element of the golden age.
One thing that gives me pause is that Chris Evert is a broadcaster and public figure, but she is pretty self-effacing and modest about her playing career and achievements. I’m wondering if she has been approached about something like this before and was reluctant to take such an honour.
Evert had a tournament named after her, and the Year End WTA No.1 is gifted a trophy bearing her name.I completely agree. She is definitely humble about her achievements which were superhuman, maybe sometimes too humble IMO but ah well !. I also think that she probably wouldn't want a grand slam stadium named after, and would likely find it overwhelming (while someone like McEnroe would love it). Maybe the ideal balance for her would be if Centre Court at the WTA Charleston tournament (which she won 8 times on her beloved har-tru) was named after her, although that is typically named after the tournament sponsor I believe.
I thought she maintained the right balance of staying involved in tennis, but moving on her from her own playing days (which some other high profile former players have failed to do as well IMO). I do not have a high opinion of her commentary (typically due to her lack of research and knowledge of players outside the big name stars), but ultimately that's not particularly relevant. And the videos on the WTA YouTube channel in which she interviewed fellow players that finished as the WTA year end no. 1 were excellent.
I've seen 'studio discussions' she has been part of in which the analysts have debated whether Navratilova, Graf or Serena was the greatest, and her record / case has been completely ignored but that hasn't bothered her one bit.
I've brought up this example many times, but when Graf won her 19th grand slam title at RG in 1996, she contrasted Evert publicly and privately congratulating her with Navratilova's (who I wish all the best with her recovery from cancer) very bitter reaction.
He lived in the area, which I knew....did not identify him with (or recall) his civil rights activity.Those inquiring why the there is a Louis Armstrong Stadium, do yourself a favor and a Google why.
The Louie Armstrong Stadium was originally called the Singer Bowl. The original stadium was not used for tennis.He lived in the area, which I knew....did not identify him (or recall) his civil rights activity.
I still think it's an unusual choice. Could have been JFK or LBJ stadium.
Better yet, Althea Gibson.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Singer_Bowl#cite_note-nyt-3In the early 1970s, the United States Tennis Association was looking for a new place to host the U.S. Open as relations with the West Side Tennis Club in Forest Hills, which had hosted the tournament, were breaking down. The USTA was initially unable to find a sufficient site, but the association's incoming president, W.E. Hester saw the old Singer Bowl from the window of an airplane flying into LaGuardia Airport. The long rectangular stadium was renamed the Louis Armstrong Memorial Stadium in 1973 after a famous Corona resident, jazz trumpeter Louis Armstrong.[3]
Yes, I had read about the history of the Singer Bowl, which was actually quite impressive!The Louie Armstrong Stadium was originally called the Singer Bowl. The original stadium was not used for tennis.
From Wikipedia:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Singer_Bowl#cite_note-nyt-3
We have an Althea Gibson tennis center --- in a park on the outskirts of Newark, NJBetter yet, Althea Gibson.
Oh that's right. I forgot and I live in NJ. She deserves something more, I think. Her story is both inspiring and depressing. She was not able to reap the financial success that pros can todayWe have an Althea Gibson tennis center --- in a park on the outskirts of Newark, NJ
what if we name a stadium Eggland's Best? LOLYou cannot be serious. Might as well name one Carillo or even more eyeopening Trump Stadium or Tom Cruise or or.... other reasonably famous New Yorkers. Adding up the numbers in total probably Williams makes some sense. I liked it when cigarette companies got big name play like Virginia Slims! I don't recall any big name players hitting the heaters right after a match during the VS years. Maybe a big oil company like Saudi Aramco.
Cal-Maine stadium sounds about right for crass commercialism.what if we name a stadium Eggland's Best?
We are experts at that in NJ....naming of anything and everything goes to the highest bidder.Cal-Maine stadium sounds about right for crass commercialism.
So you got Arthur Ash and Louis Armstrong. Are there any other stadiums at Flushing Meadow where a name has been assigned or is that it ? Does Stan Smith have a stadium named after him?
It's the "Billie Jean King National Tennis Center", i.e. the whole venue at Flushing Meadows.
Louis Armstrong stadium (the original) was the main court from 1978-1996, as Arthur Ashe stadium didn't come in until 1997. I seemed to remember Jimmy Connors saying that it should have been named after him, or someone else saying it on Jimmy's behalf, and I think it's hard to disagree. Connors embodied the character of the US Open more than anyone else.
In the years when Louis Armstrong stadium was the main court, it was usually called "Stadium Court".
They practically named a pain reliever after him after the '91 USO (Nuprin!) "Nupe It"My first tennis memory was watching Connors 91 US Open run. He should get something named after him for that
So many magical runs, eh? I think once it came to Flushing, for whatever reason, he bonded w/the fans. In '77, at Forest Hills, they were booing him (twisted). The beer and hot dogs crowd at Flushing really appreciated Connors! As did the cocktail and wine drinkers, in good time!My first tennis memory was watching Connors 91 US Open run. He should get something named after him for that
The R16 match against Panatta in 1978 seems to be the start of Connors being loved there. Connors won that swashbuckling match 4-6, 6-4, 6-1, 1-6, 7-5, and went on to win the tournament.So many magical runs, eh? I think once it came to Flushing, for whatever reason, he bonded w/the fans. In '77, at Forest Hills, they were booing him (twisted). The beer and hot dogs crowd at Flushing really appreciated Connors! As did the cocktail and wine drinkers, in good time!![]()
The Panatta match is the one w/him hitting the ball around the net post, right? Just insane!The R16 match against Panatta in 1978 seems to be the start of Connors being loved there. Connors won that swashbuckling match 4-6, 6-4, 6-1, 1-6, 7-5, and went on to win the tournament.
The 1977 final against Vilas, Connors was fuming at the end. He thought his last shot was on the line, had turned his back, and then the crowd swamped the court, Connors clashed with some fan, and he and his entourage got out of there in a hurry, with Jimmy still looking back in anger.