Daily Racquet

Weekend Tennis Read: The Outsider By Jimmy Connors

If you're looking for a good tennis read to enjoy over the holiday weekend, you might want to think about checking out Jimmy Connors new bio, The Outsider.

While much has been said about the more scandalous issues — his storybook romance with tennis legend Chris Evert, to his battles with gambling and fidelity that threatened to derail his career and his long-lasting marriage to Playboy playmate Patti McGuire — there is much more to be gleaned from the book.

For the first time, Connors talks about growing up in St Louis and how he came to rule the game with his radically aggressive style of play and bad-boy antics that turned his matches into prizefights. In 1974 alone, he won 95 out of 99 matches, all of them while wearing the same white shorts he washed in the sink of his hotel bathrooms. Though he lived the rock star life away from tennis, his enduring dedication to his craft earned him eight Grand Slam singles titles and kept him among the top ten best players in the world for sixteen straight years—five at number one.

But in the end, it was his prolonged dedication to his craft that won him the public’s adoration. He capped off one of the most remarkable runs in tennis history at the age of 39 when he reached the semifinals of the 1991 U.S. Open, competing against players half his age.

Much to the chagrin of tennis fans everywhere, when Connors retired from tennis twenty years ago, he all but disappeared from public view.

Well, Jimmy's back, he's explaining and like all the rest of us, he has his demons…

Available online at Amazon.com.

Get Color and Cushion with Nike Air Max Cage Tennis Shoes

The Nike Air Max Cage Tennis Shoes were inspired by and designed for elite athletes, with a winning mix     
of flexibility, support, cushioning and durability in a lightweight package.

And if that isn't good enough, here are a few more benefits:
    • Mesh upper for breathability and comfort
    • Padded and wrapped tongue for a seamless feel that reduces irritation
    • Midfoot stability feature on the lateral side for support during quick changes in direction and sprints
    • Durable outsole in a mix of traction patterns for traction on multiple surfaces
    • Synthetic leather heel for lightweight durability

Oh, and did we mention they come in 7 different colors?

Available online at Tennis Warehouse.

Take Your Game For A Powerful Spin With The Wilson BLX One

Looking for a new racquet to add some extra zip and power to your game?  You might want to give the  new Wilson BLX One a try. The 118-inch racquet head gives you one of the games largest sweet spots, and for those of you spinmeisters, you know what that means. But for a big racquet, it also offers up some good pace.

The BLX One also offers a solid hit thanks to the FX technology, which is placed in the shaft of the racquet. With its head heavy balance, there's plenty of mass in the head to get some good pace. In addition, this racquet features several new technologies: BLX  and Articulated Grommet Technology. BLX is really just a fancy word for Basalt, which is essentially fine-grained volcanic rock which dampens vibration. The Articulated Grommet Technology provides a 76º string movement which allows for a larger sweetspot! Yes, we keep coming back to that big headsize but quite honestly, it doesn't get much sweeter than this. 

With the new 118 inch headsize, the BLX feel, the FX technology and the hybird comfort grip — this racquet offers the complete package for the player looking for more power and a light-weight feel.

Try the BLX One and let it take your game for a powerful spin.

Available online at Tennis Warehouse.

Pick Your Tee: Rafa or Roger?

With these Rafa and Roger Spring Nike tees, fans can cheer for their man. Both tees are Dri-Fit cotton with   a ribbed crew neck and a screen print graphic on the chest. Roger's shirt features a printed distressed RF monogram at back of neck while Rafa's features a Nike Swoosh on the left sleeve.

Available online at Tennis Warehouse.

Support College Tennis With A Pro Vision NCAA Collegiate Tennis Bag

Support your favorite team with these officially licensed Pro Vision Collegiate Tennis Bags. Each bag features a small front accessories pocket, two main compartments and a smaller wet/dry or shoe compartment on the end of the bag. The bag fits up to 6 racquets without covers and features both an adjustable and removable shoulder strap and a middle grab handle for easy carrying.

Show your loyalty to your favorite college team with one of these bags (and may they soon add a log bag for for ALL the collegiate teams)!

Available online at Tennis Warehouse.

Get A Personalized Gelaskin

Look what we just got — a personalized iPhone cover with the logo of our favorite non-profit. Love it!

GelaSkins are removable covers for protecting and customizing your portable devices.  Made from a patented 3M material, GelaSkins provide protection against scratches and everyday wear-and-tear. The adhesive is re-positionable, and will not leave any residue upon removal. Air channels in the material aid in applying skins to any device by allowing air bubbles to smooth out easily.

They feature stunning, photo-quality graphics ranging from fine art prints to contemporary urban images designed by our growing family of artists from around the globe. Or, better yet, get your own personalized Gelakskin with your school, club, team or company logo. 

Inexpensive and easy too. Simply download your logo or graphic, set it up and done! It's that easy. Shipping isn't bad either.

Stand out in the crowd with personalized protection from GelaSkins.

Available online at Gelakskin.

Still Need A Gift — It's Not Too Late!

Gift certificates are the perfect solution when you just can't find the right gift or you're short of time. A gift certificate from Tennis Warehouse will make a perfect present for friends, family, and business associates who play tennis. 

Available online at Tennis Warehouse.

New Holiday Tennis Reads

Several new books have hit the shelves just in time for holiday gifts or reading.

Muscles
Muscles: The Story of Ken Rosewall is written by Richard Norton with a forward by John Barrett, tells the tale of Rosewall’s remarkable career that spanned 25 years and gained him 18 majors in total, nine doubles and one mixed to go along with his singles triumph. Rosewall, who made four Wimbledon finals, lost in the 1974 championship match to Jimmy Connors at the age of 39, some 18 years his junior.

Recounted in part by Rosewall himself and extensively researched by Naughton, the book provides a fascinating snapshot of the worldwide tennis scene in the 1950s, 60s and 70s, and is accompanied by photographs from Rosewall’s personal collection.

The book’s title is an ode to the ironic nickname his rivals gave to the 170cm-tall Sydney native, whose short stature didn’t hold him back from a remarkable career.

First in a Field of Two
First in a Field of Two is Barry Buss's personal memoir about his junior tennis experience and the strains that put upon his relationship with his father and how this influenced his developmental life as a person and athlete.

Famed Psychologist and author Dr. Allen Fox, who wrote the forward to the book says, "This book is a valuable guide for a tennis parent of how not to raise a tennis-playing child...Tennis culture portrays our sport as one big red carpet event riddled with fame, fortune and riches, and that's all true for a lucky select few. But there are a lot more stories like Barry Buss....There is a lot in here for everybody."

A Backhanded Gift
A Backhanded Gift is a new novel by Marshall Jon Fisher author of "A Terrible Splendor." Fisher explores the life of Robert Cherney, a young American in post–Cold War Munich in the late 1980s,  just before the fall of the Berlin Wall. Cherney, a 30-year-old aspiring writer, has left New York City for a job teaching tennis in Munich. Aside from private lessons, he coaches the Maccabi Club men's league team, a motley group of neurotics whose eccentricities seem exacerbated by their situation as Jews living in Germany. In addition to trying to figure out his life and not go crazy teaching tennis, Robert is trying to forget Lexa, the focus of years of erotic obsession back in New York. Helping him are Ingrid, a 40-ish Maccabi member and tennis pupil, and Veronique, a 25-year-old Jewish graduate student whom Max tries to set up with Robert. Love, tennis, sex, frustrated artistic ambition, and the dilemma of being a German Jew are all ingredients of this literary delight that is at turns serious and comedic.

If Fisher's previous tennis book, "A Terrible Splendor" is any indication, this is sure to be a good read.

Smash Your Fitness Goals With A Nike+FuelBand

Serena Willams wears a Nike+FuelBand and during a typical match she racks up 3604 fuel points and takes 8346 steps! Just like Serena, with a Nike+FuelBand, you too, can track your progress (or not).

Nike+Fuelband tracks your activity through a sport-tested accelerometer, then  translates every move into NikeFuel. It's also a great watch. Wirelessly  sync  your Nike+ FuelBand to visualize your results. Or plug it directly into your computer's USB port to sync. See your peaks, your progress and your trophies. Smash all of your fitness goals in 2013 with this slick little wristband.

Available online at Amazon.com.

Make It A Tennis Hall of Fame Christmas

If you have a true tennis aficionado on your Christmas list — think about shopping and supporting the Tennis Hall of Fame. You'll find some fantastic items at their online store. Not only will you find some good purchases but you'll be supporting the history of the game in the process.

There are a slew of fantastic gift items to choose from including the 2012 Hall of Fame Holiday ornament, Tennis Christmas ornaments, 2012 Enshrinement merchandise, jewelry, stationary, art and more.

We're a bit partial to the Unisex Hoodie that sports the Tennis Hall of Fame logo on both the front and back hood.

But, no matter what your choice, be sure to check out the Tennis Hall of Fame store before you finish your holiday shopping.

Available online at Tennis Hall of Fame.