Comments on: Night Tennis: Another Attempt at Popularizing Tennis

By: Vicki

Vicki — Fri, 03 Nov 2006 20:58:50 +0000

OK how is going to promote the game to the masses. I don’t blame them for trying new things to get new fans in but I don’t think they will be trying this again.

By: Aaress

Aaress — Fri, 03 Nov 2006 16:10:46 +0000

Actually, Stewpot, the changes at Westside will definitely cause a big change to tennis in Houston. The McIngvale’s have decided to get rid of Westside’s grass courts, and change the focus from tennis to more of a fitness club.

As for its effect on professional tennis, the men’s clay court championship is only guaranteed in Houston until 2008. According to Dale Robertson at the Houston Chronicle, Mattress Mac will be pushing for a new hardcourt tournament during the summer.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/ten/4296276.html

Personally, I doubt Houston will get anything especially as this would fall right during the heart of the US Open Series and the calendar is pretty packed already. Unless of course one of the other tournaments wants to move to Houston. I’d love to see Houston get a woman’s tournament in the future as the only thing we have is a Challenger Circuit event at River Oaks.

By: stewpot

stewpot — Fri, 03 Nov 2006 14:54:06 +0000

I can not imagine the increased risks for injury to the players in a sport that battles injuries on a regular basis.

On another note, does the Houston West Side Tennis club changing its playing surfaces cause much of a change to tennis in Houston?

By: Aaress

Aaress — Thu, 02 Nov 2006 18:40:05 +0000

(The strawberries might survive, but the cream would definitely curdle in sheer apoplectic horrorâ€¦.)

LOL – that is hilarious!

By: Sapphisto

Sapphisto — Thu, 02 Nov 2006 18:32:45 +0000

OHHH – don’t even go there – sacrilege!!!

ROFL, you evil woman, you!!!

(The strawberries might survive, but the cream would definitely curdle in sheer apoplectic horror….)

By: Aaress

Aaress — Thu, 02 Nov 2006 17:56:59 +0000

You know on second thought about Wimbledon – it might not be too much of a stretch.

After all, the players are dressed in white . . .

By: Sapphisto

Sapphisto — Thu, 02 Nov 2006 17:38:37 +0000

“I hope I do not sound like a stick in the mud”

Heck no!! Just a genuine tennis fan.

Have these idiots considered that maybe it’s a risk to the players’ wellbeing to play in the DARK??? (Not to mention, it can be quite hazardous up in the grandstand even at a normal night game – I had some obnoxious kid trample all over my camera bag at the Acura Classic; luckily nothing was damaged.) I can only hope that the players in question are not our favorite pros.

And as for this:
“The press release assures us that Sony Ericsson is hoping to do this again â€œin selected cities next year to coincide with major tournaments on the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour.â€ I think it is safe to guess that Wimbledon will probably not be one of them.”

Aaress, I snorted so loud I had to explain what was going on to my coworkers. LOL!