Spadea's book has dirt on Blake, Roddick, Richard Williams

[Kevin Patrick]

James Blake — Spadea, who has won seven of 10 meetings with Blake, recalls one clash with his rival in which Blake took time during a changeover to accuse Spadea of resorting to gamesmanship in trying to break his momentum by taking a bathroom break. Spadea, who has scored five straight wins over the Yonkers, N.Y. native, blasts Blake as a "bad sport" after the match. In another Blake-related anecdote that intensified the tension between the two, Spadea details the former Harvard all American stealing away a model Spadea brought to a players' party while Spadea visited the bathroom.

Andy Roddick — Spadea explains why he believes Roddick's game has declined a bit since the former No. 1 split with Brad Gilbert. Spadea also recounts the time he and Roddick squired two models to late-night clubs in Australia and how the models responded when Roddick offered to fly them back to South Florida.

Andre Agassi — Spadea details how it feels to step on the court against the eight-time Grand Slam champion and recalls the wild weekend he spent with Agassi in Vegas when he was just an 18-year-old practice partner and Agassi was training for his comeback.

John McEnroe — Spadea takes readers inside a memorable practice session with the Hall of Famer on the red clay of New York City's Tennisport and, in another humorous anecdote, remembers attending a Los Angeles party along with McEnroe, Jim Carrey, Adam Sandler and Pamela Anderson, in which McEnroe introduced Spadea to fellow party goers by simply saying: "This is the guy who tanked at Wimbledon." McEnroe selected Spadea to play against Spain in the Davis Cup semifinals in Santander, Spain in what proved to be McEnroe's final tie as U.S. Davis Cup captain before younger brother Patrick succeeded him. Spadea's public debate with Patrick McEnroe over the captain initially by-passing him for a spot on the squad that played Spain in the 2004 Davis Cup final is also explored in the book.

Pete Sampras — Spadea, who trained with Sampras' former coach Pete Fischer and beat Sampras in their last meeting, details the qualities that make Sampras one of the greatest player in the history of the game as well as how Sampras enjoyed telling risque jokes.

Rafael Nadal — Spadea, who has split two career matches with the reigning Roland Garros champion, says he will be surprised if Nadal matches Jim Courier's feat of winning four Grand Slam titles.

Brad Gilbert — The book illustrates why Gilbert was one of the most acerbic players in the game, but became one of tennis' top coaches.

Women — Who are the biggest womanizers on the ATP Tour? Who are the Tour's the biggest dogs? And what are the drawbacks to engaging female groupies? Spadea offers answers.

Richard Williams — The book alleges Mr. Williams once shot at Venus' dog during a practice session.

http://www.sportsmediainc.com/tennisweek/index.cfm?func=showarticle&newsid=14459&bannerregion=

 

[Fee]

Argh Kevin, I was just trying to find your last thread on this topic to add this article to...

 

[Kevin Patrick]

So who's the biggest womanizer on tour, Fee? Stepanek?

 

[Fee]

That's pretty much what I hear. Hope I never have to drive him at a tournament



{To be honest, I have no clue. I'm usually trying to get other types of info from the guys I talk to (the game, the business, whatever). I have had a few chats with the Ice-man himself, but nothing earth shattering}.

 

[guernica1]

So who's the biggest womanizer on tour, Fee? Stepanek?

the guy is a bit funny looking but he like the other Czech players had gorgeous girlfriends when I saw them at the Nasdaq a couple years ago.

having been to the Czech republic though, lets just say beautiful women are plentiful in that region

 

[spinbalz]

In another Blake-related anecdote that intensified the tension between the two, Spadea details the former Harvard all American stealing away a model Spadea brought to a players' party while Spadea visited the bathroom.
[/url]

Then Blake is lucky that Spadea is no Tyson <or at least Blake has been smart enough to notice that Spadea was no Tyson...>!!!

 

[spinbalz]

Spadea details the former Harvard all American stealing away a model Spadea brought to a players' party while Spadea visited the bathroom.
[/url]

Mmm... And what was Spadea doing in the bathroom during a party? You see what I mean?

 

[Kevin Patrick]

No one ever hit on you, Fee? These tennis players must be a well-behaved bunch.

I agree on Czech women, guernica1. It doesn't seem to apply to the guys though-Lendl, Korda, Stepanek-some really funny looking dudes.

A semi-related note on groupies. Attended a summer league many years ago. A young Steve Nash was there trying to pick up some groupies & was getting no where. They probably didn't believe he was actually an NBA player.

 

[Fee]

Well I wear a wedding ring and I don't have the type of looks that inspire men to spout that type of poetry to me. Somebody's little brother hit on me way back in 2002, it's how we became friends (but we both think he was just kidding about it).

 

[Kevin Patrick]

I doubt Torrey was kidding. That was just a cover for getting shot down.

I think it's bad form to dish on Roddick. Those "models" wouldn't have been anywhere near Vince without Roddick around.

Looks like Vince thinks Nadal may be peaking early-4 slams?

 

[pound cat]

Latest tennis joke....

So what did the models with Roddick and Spadea say when Roddick offered to fly them back to S. Florida?


(Suppy the punchline)

 

[spinbalz]

Latest tennis joke....

So what did the models with Roddick and Spadea say when Roddick offered to fly them back to S. Florida?


(Suppy the punchline)

Punchline :

- S. Florida? Sorry but we are not grandmas yet!

or

- Would you be nice enough to rather fly US to Switzerland, there is a famous tennis player over there that we would like to have <censored 3 letter word> with!

 

[Fee]

I doubt Torrey was kidding. That was just a cover for getting shot down.

He wasn't shot down. Funny thing was, it took me about 10 minutes to realize what he'd said. That was one funny night... Thanks for the trip down memory lane.

 

[Dan007]

What the hell is up with Spadea??????????????

 

[vantagepoint]

I think you'll see Vince do some suprising things when his career is done:

1. Field reporter for CBS news, digging up Hilary Clinton's records at Rose Law Firm;
2. World-class big-wave surfer;
3. SQL developer with a specialty in long-term storage;
4. Bassist for the Kenny G Orchestra (assuming there is one);
5. ATP tour umpire.
6. Import/Export Businessman, with a specialty in Brazilnuts and kumquats.

 

[vantagepoint]

I forgot co-chairman of the Fabiola Zuluaga fan club.

 

[NoBadMojo]

I heard they printed 10 copies of this book in the initial run. so far they've a 20% sell through......Vince bought a copy and so did his mom who was shocked and apalled at what goes on on the ATP tour....how about those Vikings!...kind of puts Vinnie's stories to shame and that was just a normal regular party I think.

 

[AndrewD]

'So what did the models with Roddick and Spadea say when Roddick offered to fly them back to S. Florida?"

Perhaps;

'Great, when's Vince going to the bathroom so we can ditch him like last time'.


Seriously though, if you looked like Spadea you should be thrilled that you got to take a model to any party. Taking her home though, that's for guys who look like Blake, not Mr.Potato Head LOL.

 

[callitout]

Wow Spadea likes models and hanging out with celebrities. I hope the book provides lots of insight into what a truly complex individual the real vince spadea is.

Good for him for trying to lead a race to the bottom to see if he can be the most classless player on the tour and sell a few copies of his book.

 

[wtaplayerz]

Thanks Kevin.

Reminds me of the book Venus Envy.

 

[joe sch]

Reads like some good stuff !
This is what tennis needs to get some more public interest, the dirtly laundry.
Got to admit, Vince is an over achiever

 

[VamosRafa]

I've yet to be Con-VINCED. Which was the name of Vince's official site. Is that still around? That was a few years ago.

Not sure how Vince can make comparisons re Courier and Nadal, except that he is 1-1 against them both. So he didn't have many opportunities to play either of them.

Re Nadal: The fact that he lost so easily to Nadal at Wimbly this year (in 3 sets), and had a tough match against him in Madrid last year (the event Nadal won this year), doesn't give any conclusive stats. Everyone here knows how bad Nadal is on grass. ;-)

Re Courier: Jim should be writing a book, not Vince. At least it would be more Con-VINCing.

But Jim has a lot of credibility in the industry, and he likely wouldn't sell out to make a few bucks in the short haul. He's a hall-of-famer whose in it for the long haul.

 

[snoflewis]

wow....i'd like to see nadal and blake kick the crap out of spadea...haha...come to think of it, nadal would probably be a good fighter because he's pretty much ambidextrous...not to mention his physical condition

 

[equinox]

AndrewD, that's a really harsh comment about spadea.

Spadea is like the snoop doggydog pimp of the tennis circuit.

 

[AndrewD]

AndrewD, that's a really harsh comment about spadea.

Spadea is like the snoop doggydog pimp of the tennis circuit.

Not harsh mate, just having a bit of fun. Vinnie's a big boy and Im sure he's got a sense of humour. End of the day, he's got the 19 y/o Brazilian model with the "voluptuous rump region" and my girlfriend won't even let me look at pics like that LOL. So, I kind of doubt he'd mind a bit of stirring.

 

[Deuce]

I hope the book provides lots of insight into what a truly complex individual the real vince spadea is.

That's quite funny.

Spadea is little more than an overgrown adolescent, preoccupied with his own 'celebrity', who now wants to make a buck by 'telling tales out of school'.

 

[Noelle]

I think you'll see Vince do some suprising things when his career is done:

1. Field reporter for CBS news, digging up Hilary Clinton's records at Rose Law Firm;
2. World-class big-wave surfer;
3. SQL developer with a specialty in long-term storage;
4. Bassist for the Kenny G Orchestra (assuming there is one);
5. ATP tour umpire.
6. Import/Export Businessman, with a specialty in Brazilnuts and kumquats.

Please don't forget that he has to fulfill the contract he wrote and signed to be in the Top 10 by end of 2006.

 

[melzer federer]

My bet for womanizer goes to Bruneo Ribouh (sorry). Sitting in his ump chair, scheming on women all day long...

As for the punchline to the joke about Roddick flying the girls to South Florida- "Sorry, but we are not ready to visit death's waiting room!"

 

[AndrewD]

My bet for womanizer goes to Bruneo Ribouh (sorry). Sitting in his ump chair, scheming on women all day long...

How did you know that?

I called service line numerous times with him in the chair and he'd definately take the title as the biggest womaniser I've seen. One doubles match at the Aus Open (involving Henri Leconte) he was passing notes to a ball kid who was running them up to a woman he'd noticed in the stands. After three notes Leconte grabbed the note from the kid and started reading it out aloud. Probably would have been more embarrassing if he'd been reading it in English but funny nonetheless LOL.

 

[Tchocky]

Unfortunately, the book doesn't come out until April. I love reading dirt about tennis players.

 

[norcal]

How did you know that?

I called service line numerous times with him in the chair and he'd definately take the title as the biggest womaniser I've seen. One doubles match at the Aus Open (involving Henri Leconte) he was passing notes to a ball kid who was running them up to a woman he'd noticed in the stands. After three notes Leconte grabbed the note from the kid and started reading it out aloud. Probably would have been more embarrassing if he'd been reading it in English but funny nonetheless LOL.

That is freakin' hilarious Andrew. Love your stories.

 

[vantagepoint]

Noelle- true, forgot that one.

Is this what pissed off Tarango so much, Rebueh was girl-watching instead of paying attention to Jeff?

 

[Rob_C]

I doubt Torrey was kidding. That was just a cover for getting shot down.

I think it's bad form to dish on Roddick. Those "models" wouldn't have been anywhere near Vince without Roddick around.

Looks like Vince thinks Nadal may be peaking early-4 slams?

Is that Torrey Gambill??

 

[Jack the Hack]

Is that Torrey Gambill??

I was wondering the same thing!

Torrey Gambill played in a low level pro tournament that I was directing up in Portland several years ago. He seemed like a nice kid overall. His brother was really breaking through at the time, and Torrey was wearing the same Adidas clothes and using the same racquet (I think). Anyway, he looked like a mini-version of JMG, and didn't seem adverse to chatting up the ladies that were around. (He even hit on my wife in an innocent sort of way... I mentioned this thread, and she definitely remembers him! I didn't blame him though, my wife's a hottie!)

 

[legolas]

So who's the biggest womanizer on tour, Fee? Stepanek?

marat, lol

 

[Fee]

Is that Torrey Gambill??

Yes, it was Torrey Gambill. I'm still convinced he was just kidding around when he said 'I was just trying to be nice to the pretty driver lady so that she would like me' and whatever else he said, I barely remember anymore (old age, natch). He seemed a bit surprised when I told him that I was older than his brother and married, I guess he never noticed the ring. He can be quite funny when he wants to be, right up there with Irakli Labadze and Noam Okun as the biggest laughs I have ever had.

 

[Ronaldo]

So who's the biggest womanizer on tour, Fee? Stepanek?

AMELIE MAURESMO?

 

[norcal]

AMELIE MAURESMO?

ba-dump-bump.

 

[norcal]

Yes, it was Torrey Gambill. I'm still convinced he was just kidding around when he said 'I was just trying to be nice to the pretty driver lady so that she would like me' and whatever else he said, I barely remember anymore (old age, natch). He seemed a bit surprised when I told him that I was older than his brother and married, I guess he never noticed the ring. He can be quite funny when he wants to be, right up there with Irakli Labadze and Noam Okun as the biggest laughs I have ever had.

Fee, you keep mentioning your wedding ring. A wedding ring to a play-a is like a speedbump to a speeder; just another obstacle to negotiate.

 

[@wright]

Marriage is just something you say...

Don't tell my wife I typed that!

 

[Fee]

Fee, you keep mentioning your wedding ring. A wedding ring to a play-a is like a speedbump to a speeder; just another obstacle to negotiate.

I'll have to trust you on that since you are a guy (right? I think you've said that before) and I am not. I still think he was just joking around, trying to make me keep laughing, I'm just not that attractive that people randomly hit on me.

Back to the topic, I have to wonder about Tommy Haas, he's just so good looking he could probably snap his fingers...

 

[atatu]

Well, life can get pretty lonely on the road for the lower ranked players....

 

[Venus' Dog]

Richard Williams — The book alleges Mr. Williams once shot at Venus' dog during a practice session.

I'm glad that fool is a bad shot or I would be pushing up daisys at the pet cemetary! It's cool, I got him back.

 

[AAAA]

Fee, you keep mentioning your wedding ring. A wedding ring to a play-a is like a speedbump to a speeder; just another obstacle to negotiate.

A technicality.

 

[Kobble]

If people want "the real dirt", or just plenty of trash talk, go to the old S-T-E-V-E-G's tennis forum. Much crap to read.

 

[marc]

torrey is not a bad kid, probably a strange existence for him when he was trying to play tournaments since his brother was doing so well (relatively) at the time...i felt kinda bad for him whenever i saw him because there is a lot of jealousy out there on the circuit (i use "the circuit" loosely) and he was the butt of a lot of jokes / put-downs...

 

[HollerOne5]

Has anyone read this book and can give the actual dirt that is in it?

 

[Ronaldo]

No one ever hit on you, Fee? These tennis players must be a well-behaved bunch.

I agree on Czech women, guernica1. It doesn't seem to apply to the guys though-Lendl, Korda, Stepanek-some really funny looking dudes.

A semi-related note on groupies. Attended a summer league many years ago. A young Steve Nash was there trying to pick up some groupies & was getting no where. They probably didn't believe he was actually an NBA player.

Maybe it was his mullet? http://www.mulletlovers.com/images/johndalymullet.jpg

 

[Nastase]

I read it...good book...Vince tells some funny tales but IMO is cautious not to dish on the other guys really...he provides some anecdotes from the tour life and locker room....he does assess some of his fellow pros abilities and careers...but is also very self depricating and discusses some of his fears, concerns about rankings, prize money, fans, girls, records against others......he comes across as very moral actually....He was quite sick for some of 2005 so he writes about his frustration with not feeling up to every match...He halls out P-Mac on the davis Cup selection, but backs it up with data syang he had a great practice week in Spain and beat the other players. I thought is was a good quick read, not a tabloid book at all.


The dude just marches to his own drummer and is a bit of an outsider....who wants to be a USTA insider anyway with P-Mac so in love with the good looking young dudes...he and Fish need to get a room.