Wednesday, June 24, 2009

Wimbledon miscellany

Rennae Stubbs is fed up with the littering behavior of some of her colleagues.

Several years ago, Mary Carillo coined the term "Big babe tennis." Today--on ESPN's "Technically Speaking" segment--Carillo, Pam Shriver and Mary Joe Fernandez did a cheesy--and hilarious-- send-up of themselves--with a little help from Maria Sharapova.

New roof rule: Any player hitting a lob or service return and striking the ceiling loses the point.

Note to certain unevolved fans (and writers): Using or suggesting the word "feminine" to insult a man is actually much more insulting to women and girls. If you don't like a player's outfit, fine. But just once, could you leave gender out of it?

IMG is trying to sign Laura Robson again.

Bruce Jenkins of the San Francisco Chronicle doesn't think a Venus-Serena final would be such a good thing.

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Well I hope in the end it's an all Williams final, with Venus winning her 6th championship. Go Venus Go Serena!

Anonymous said...

If either Williams sister makes the final, I'm quitting watching tennis for good :(

Gimme Dinara, Ana, Aza, Vera, Woz... ANYONE except those two girls! Why can't they join ATP or something?

Diane said...

Venus and Serena (who, last I checked were adults) should join the ATP because...?

Anonymous said...

Well next saturday if one of the Williams sisters win the title then you should quit watching. But I doubt if you do. You just want to get your little dig in and thats ok. We all have the right of free speech. I think Venus and Serena are good for the game of tennis you might disagree with me but still thats ok, their gonna be around for a long while. Venus said that she would love to play in the next olypmics and their not until 2012. Go Venus Go Serena!

Todd Spiker said...

Are you sure it was Carillo? The first person I remember using the "Big Babe tennis" phrase was Billie Jean King back when she was on HBO's Wimbledon coverage.

I know Carillo (and Navratilova, to some extent) has sort of co-opted it now since you never see BJK doing commentary anymore, but I've always credited her with that. Hmm...

Diane said...

I have always been told that Carillo coined the term when she saw Mary Pierce play, but--knowing how these things go--she could very well have stolen it from King. If so, I wish she would stop the myth that it is her creation.