PHOTO OP: Champions arrive in Kuala Lumpur for exo - so what's James doing there?

The tennis season for most of the men ended this weekend so you know what that means: bring on the money-making exos!

Bjorn Borg, James Blake, Roger Federer, and John McEnroe arrived in Kuala Lumpur for the Showdown of Champions and attended the pre-match presser today. Last year, Fed + Pete Sampras traveled here during their much-heralded series of exhibition matches.

Call me crazy but doesn't James seem severely out of place here? He must be thinking the same thing. For some reason James and "champion" just don't have the right ring to it. I wish Rafael Nadal, who was the other choice besides the American baller, had made this exo - how incredible would that sight have been?

Oh well, it's a great opportunity for James to join these legends and makes some serious bank along the way. Win win!




(images via Getty)

McEnroe stays true to form, gets booted from Newport tourney

Unlike a fine wine, some things don't get better with age.

John McEnroe was booted from his opening round match against MaliVai Washington at the Hall of Fame Champions Cup in Newport.

The 49-year old hot head was disputing a line call when he received a code violation for using an obsenity. In typical style, John kept up the arguing and was given two more abuse of official penalties as the crowd began yelling for him to continue play. The tennis legend then offered the fans an obscene gesture as a "thanks for coming."

Apparently MaliVai was the one who gave notice to the officials telling them he wasn't happy with John's tirade:

There are a lot of things I can deal with—disputed line calls, stoppage in play. I have an issue when my opponent starts berating people, fans and umpires. I said something to the official. As players, we are in control of the match. Officials are in charge of the integrity of the game.

Ahhh - this story made me nostalgic for some of John's most classic (or is it classless?) moments. Let's take a look:

VIDEO VAULT: Fed, Maria, Pete + Johnny Mac show "Courage" in new Nike spot

Nike just released a new commercial as part of their global "Courage" campaign which is associated with the Beijing Olympics.

The spot combines the Human Race running event for August 31, the new Hyperdunk sneaker, and 20 years of the iconic "Just Do It" campaign. The Killers track "All These Things I've Done" serves as the anthem for this commercial - nice.

Tennis superstars Roger Federer + Maria Sharapova make appearances along with classic clips of legends Pete Sampras + John McEnroe.

Doesn't get better than this - check it:

Creators of Marc Jacobs tennis ad revealed - and they model too!

Mystery solved: The identity of the artists behind the hilarious site I wrote about mocking a Marc Jacobs Summer 2008 ad campaign and featuring tennis legends John McEnroe and Bjorn Borg have been revealed!

According to New York Magazine's fashion blog The Cut the site was created by Thomas Larsson and Greg Hart of creative firm Hart + Larsson and they had this to say about the idea:

We're Hart+Larsson. We're photographers, filmmakers, and advertising creatives. We call what we do The New Enthusiasm: an aesthetic movement (or philosophy) of sorts.

Borg+McEnroe is something we'd been wanting to do for a little while now. We thought it'd be interesting to adopt two generally well-known personas, style them, identify them as Borg and McEnroe, place them within a popular commercial context (the Marc Jacobs display ad), and then turn them loose. In a world dominated by replication and automation, we wondered whether or not we could create an 'authentic' Marc Jacobs ad. And we think we succeeded, for the most part. You know, in truth, we're not really sure anyone would naturally consider Juergen Teller to be a great photographer; perhaps he is, perhaps he's not — obviously, it's all rather subjective. We do know, however, that if one views his work within that instantly recognizable Marc Jacobs frame, one can't help but conclude that one is looking at the work of a master.

Geez - I can't help but be a little disappointed that these images aren't really part of an MJ ad campaign. One can dream.

(image via nymag.com)

You Cannot Be Serious: McEnroe + Borg featured in Marc Jacobs ad campaign?

Classic: Now THIS is how you mix tennis + fashion people.

I stumbled upon this hilarious spoof of a Marc Jacobs Summer 2008 ad campaign featuring John McEnroe + Bjorn Borg wannabes circa 1980. The spot was produced by someone called Mr. Teller and features our tennis legends in all sorts of scenarios and "risqué" poses. To see the full campaign, click here.



I wish this was a real MJ ad campaign - tennis really needs an injection of humor right now. Plus, I'd love to hear Bjorn's reaction...he looks like a man being a woman being a man.

Genius.


(image via thenewenthusiam.com)

THE LOW DOWN: John McEnroe suspects mafia involvement in tennis match-fixing

Is the tennis world being infiltrated by the mafia? Likely, according to John McEnroe. Tennis' most famous loud-mouth told The Daily Telegraph,

"The thing that worries me is that mafia types, like the Russian mafia, could be involved. That's potentially pretty dark and scary, [...] I think that's the side that people aren't really looking at with these match-fixing stories. Someone may have threatened the players, and they are put in a situation. I'm guessing that could happen. That would make more sense to me than top players throwing a match for money."

"Throwing a match for money would be stupid, as you would be risking losing what you've worked for your whole life. It seems crazy that players would take that risk for money. It would make more sense that they've been threatened in some way and that's why they're doing it."

Oh, the ol' mafia excuse again. Why is McEnroe allowed to propogate this type of stereotyping publicly without consequence? It's unfortunate and unnecessary.

Is it completely inconceiveable for a player to match-fix from pure greed? Not to us.

(image via gameguru.com)

+ THURSDAY NETCORDS: Roger, Andy vs. Brad II, Ana vs. Jelena ...Venus and Serena double up, Bec cries and more

(image courtesy of nbawant2b)

- So why did Andy Murray really dump Brad Gilbert? This is London claims his large entourage is to blame - more specifically, the presence of Mamma Murray aka Judy. According to their report, "A brilliant coach in her own right who has come up with more active title-winning players in her own family than the combined efforts of the Lawn Tennis Association put together, [Judy] still very much directs the traffic. Nobody knows the parts of her son's expansive game, or his complex psyche, better than she does. Since Murray came back from injury she has been present at the bigger events, such as the U.S. Open, the Davis Cup and the Madrid and Paris Masters." We bet the very vocal Gilbert wasn't thrilled to take the coaching back seat to Mamma Murray. Another coaching guru, Nick Bollettieri, doesn't believe one coach is sufficient in today's complex game. He tells The Independent, "I could envisage a team of three: a physical trainer, someone to work on his technique and someone to motivate him," said Bollettieri. Are you sure that's enough coach? We need that many just to get to our desk job everyday.

- Insider information: Listen in as Roger Federer quizzes Bjorn Borg on how to win the French Open, John McEnroe about his greatest tennis regrets, and then takes the hotseat as Borg and McEnroe ask the World No. 1 questions in the next Blackrock Champions podcast on Tuesday, Nov. 20th. To subscribe, click here.

- Serbian showdown: Top-5 players Ana Ivanovic and Jelena Jankovic will compete in an exhibition match in their home country at the Belgrade Arena on December 7th. The event called NAJJ Srbije will also feature Novak Djokovic and Janko Tipsarevic.

- The Sisters Sledge, Venus & Serena, will play doubles at the Aussie Open in 2008. Okay tournament officials, all together now, "CHA-CHING!"

- Young gun: 11-year-old Teertha Iska, India's No. 3 tennis player in the under-12 category and disciple of guru Nick Bollettieri, received her first corporate sponsor. Ah, to be 11 and loaded - those were the days...

- Rumors of pregnancy are swirling around Bec Hewitt, wife of Aussie hot-head Lleyton Hewitt, after the former actress broke down in tears giving a speech during her first official gig as ambassador of the Children's Hospital Westmead. We see the connection, really.

- Psych out: Anna Chakvetadze likes to play mind games on the court - with herself. The Russian top-tenner says, "I studied psychology at university, although I've not yet finished. [...] It helps you prepare properly for the match and when I'm playing I try to think about the next point and not the last one. I also make a point of fighting all the time as it puts pressure on your opponent when they see you don't want to give them any free points."

- Should Israeli players compete in Muslim countries? ESPN.com's Bonnie D. Ford investigates.

Andre Agassi honored with Eugene L. Scott Award at Legends Ball

Andre Agassi was given the Eugene L. Scott Award during last night's Legends Ball held at Cipriani in New York City. Looking dapper in his all-black suit, the legendary Agassi was presented the award for embodying Scott’s commitment to communicating honestly and critically about the game, and significantly impacting the tennis world. Scott founded Tennis Week magazine and wrote the most widely read and well-respected column about the sport, “Vantage Point.” Last year, John McEnroe received the inaugural award.

Other tennis luminaries in attendance: Stan Smith and Guillermo Vilas

Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario, Pam Shriver, and Jim Courier

(images via Getty Images and Cipriani.com)

+ FRIDAY NETCORDS: Roger vs. Pete, Maria vs. Rafa...Annie Leibovitz shoots the Grafassi's, 2008 Olympics and more

- Catching up with the Grafassi's: Here are some active retirees. Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf are keeping busy these days. The tennis power couple are planning to build a $600 million dollar Fairmont resort hotel in Idaho, equipped with a rock-climbing wall, a machine that simulates kayaking, and a bowling alley, too. As if that weren't enough to keep the mulitple Grand Slammers busy, their mugs will be featured in an upcoming advertising campaign for Parisian fashion label Louis Vuitton along with former Soviet Union president Mikhail S. Gorbachev and shot by famed photog Annie Leibovitz.

- Tennis Diary says "B" girls (that's B-level players) need love too and can play some A-level tennis...what says you?

- John McEnroe and Maria "Shriek"apova were on hand to close out the Newport Beach Breakers tournament. Wanna see them play some doubles? Click here.

- 2008 Olympics update: The Sony Ericsson WTA Tour has agreed to allow players to accrue ranking points at the Olympics, and the total number of participants from a single country has been raised from 4 to 6 (a country can nominate 4 singles players and a separate doubles team if they choose.)

- On a break during the Bank of the West Classic this week Daniela Hantuchova played tennis, both real and the Playstation variety, with race car driver Bruno Junqueira, who is in town to compete in Sunday's third annual San Jose Grand Prix. Was a love connection made?

- Tennis tips from mom: Tennis mom Judy Murray, momma of both Andy and Jamie, explains hardcourt tennis, from how the court effects the ball to winning strategies on this unforgiving surface

- This weekend catch the ending of the World Team Tennis season, featuring the championship match between the Sacramento Capitals against the Springfield Lasers, on RadioTennis.com

- Rafael Nadal vs. Maria "Shriek"apova? It could happen at the inaugural Merdeka Tennis Challenge at the Malawati Stadium in Shah Alam on Nov 18-25. Roger Federer and Pete Sampras are scheduled to play a match, with Rafa's opponent being either Maria or Marcos Baghdatis, both of whom are expected to play exhibition matches.

- Peter Bodo wants to know which men's players you think are "Hott". Submit your list, in order of hottness, now...

(image courtesy of victoriax21)

+ Weekend Winners

DFS Classic - Jelena "Weird Al" Jankovic d. Maria Shriekapova 4-6, 6-3, 7-5. I think Janko beating Shriekapova, a former Wimbledon winner, on grass is a pretty significant win for the raven-haired Serbian. I'm a big fan of her game, so if she can keep her marbles together at 4-all in the 3rd set of the Wimby semifinals a maiden Grand Slam title is possible. Otherwise the "choke-master" label is not out of the question, with her devastating loss to Justin Henin at the U.S. Open last year (where she was up a set and a break) and her apathetic losses at the Aussie and French Opens this year.

Queen's Club - Andy Roddick d. Nicolas Mahut 4-6, 7-6 (7), 7-6 (2). It's good to see A-Rod fighting to win a title! He's definitely one of the best on grass, so this should be a good confidence booster for him. He's too good not to have added to his first Slam at the U.S. Open (although, to be fair, he's living in the 'Federer Years'.) He joins Lleyton Hewitt, John McEnroe, and Boris "Baby Daddy" Becker as 4-time winners at Queen's Club.

Gerry Weber Open - Tomas Berdych d. Marcos Baghdatis 7-5, 6-4. Too bad for the Baghster, losing on his 22nd birthday. But Tomas is so talented, yet so streaky (and much prettier than his girlfriend Lucie Safarova, actually.) He could do damage at The All-England Club with his power game but one never knows which Tomas will show up. Berdych has the skills to beat anyone on a good day, but those come few and far between for the Czech player.