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THE
SCOOP: FRIDAY, OCTOBER 12
Davis
Cup team donates to 911 tragedy fund;
Australian Open needs new sponsor
By
Sandra Harwitt
tennisreporters.net
 U.S.
Davis Cup Team Sends $100,000 to Relief Effort
News from Winston-Salem, North Carolina is that the U.S. Davis
Cup team, who will face India in a qualifying round here this
weekend, are donating $100,000 to the relief efforts stemming
from the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Players will also be donning
caps that are emblazoned with NYPD (New York Police Department)
or FDNY (New York Fire Department) in support of the policeman
and fireman who gave their lives to save people at the World Trade
Center and are working around the clock in recovery efforts at
Ground Zero. The charity or charities that will receive the money
have yet to be determined.
Andy Roddick, who is the lead singles player for the U.S. team
with James Blake taking the second singles slot in lieu of Todd
Martin, said he’s been comfortable traveling since the Sept.
11th terrorist attacks. Roddick plans to finish out his season
with appearances at Stuttgart, Basel and Paris before taking the
last two months of the year off.
Roddick
said, “You know, I really trust the efforts that are being
made by the airports to really tighten up security and stuff.
As far as competing, I feel great. I’m here for my country,
so that makes me feel really good. You know, I have traveled abroad
since then and it went just fine.”
SPONSOR
NEEDED FOR OZ OPEN
Word
from Down Under is that only three-and-a half months until the
Australian Open gets underway in January 2002 and the Grand Slam
has no major sponsor. Ford Motors, who poured money into the event
for 16 years as its major sponsor, pulled out after last year’s
Open and so far a replacement has not stepped up. At the moment,
tournament officials are still hoping that one major sponsor will
come on board at this 11th hour, but if not they plan on putting
together a package of presenting sponsors to make up the money
of one major sponsor.
Australian
Open president Geoff Pollard and tournament director Paul McNamee
note that player prize money has increased for 2002 despite the
lack of a major sponsor to fill Ford Motors shoes and that other
upgrades will be noticeable at the Grand Slam. The Australian
Open is a fabulous event – a Grand Slam in its heart with
a unique ability to deliver its package in a friendly, small town
way. Without a doubt, financial times are tough around the world
and not getting better with the recession the U.S. is slipping
into, but for a sponsor looking to put money into sports, the
Australian Open is a positive purchase to invest its money.
COURIER
BANKS BIG BUCKS FOR GULLIKSON FOUNDATION
Jim
Courier’s appearance on the game show “Who Wants To
Be A Millionaire” turned into a $32,000 success for the Tim
and Tom Gullikson Foundation. Courier joined a number of other
sports stars playing the game for a charity of their choice. The
Gullikson Foundation spends its money to aid brain tumor patients
and their families. Tim Gullikson, who coached Pete Sampras to
No. 1 in the world, died of a brain tumor in May 1996. Martina
Navratilova was also a contestant.
WOMEN
ACE MONEY FOR JPMORGAN CHASE TENNIS CAMP FOR GIRLS
As
tennisreporters.net reported during the U.S. Open, the
women players were in high gear for the fifth straight year in
their efforts to raise money for the JPMorgan Chase Tennis Camps
for Girls by earning $50 per ace served for the charity.
Collectively,
the women posted 616 aces in the singles competition this year
– up
from 595 served in 2000 at the U.S. Open. This year’s result
means that JPMorgan Chase will donate $30,800 so that 150 girls
can receive free tennis lessons. U.S. Open finalist Serena Williams
was the ace champ with 50 aces over the course of the two weeks
at the Grand Slam Other notable ace performances go to Alicia
Molik of Australia with 36 aces, former champion Lindsay Davenport
with 29 aces, and Frenchwoman Amelie Mauresmo with 20 aces.
IS
SAMPRAS A SELLABLE FACE?
A
trip to the Crate and Barrel store at the Town Center Mall in
Boca Raton revealed a very interesting item for sale. The store
that sells high-end products from kitchen items to furnishings
is pedaling a drink coaster that doubles as a picture frame. tennisreporters.net
was surprised to see that a portrait photo of Pete Sampras was
the face the store was using to market the unique item.
FLORIDA
TENNIS PUBLISHER RECEIVES USTA AWARD
tennisreporters.net
congratulates Florida Tennis publisher Jim Martz on receiving
the USTA’s National Media Excellence Award for print media
this year at the U.S. Open. Martz, who was the tennis writer for
the Miami Herald for 18 years, started Florida Tennis in 1992
and the publication became the official magazine of the USTA Florida
section eight years ago. The magazine is dedicated to reporting
about grass roots tennis in the state, but with so many of the
tour players living in the Sunshine State, it covers a great deal
of the professional circuit as well.
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