Pathological Losers: My Vic Braden Interview

[klacr]

to discover that someone still hates me. Thank you bottle. You've saved me from irrelvancy. I was hoping to go to war with Kyle because he is too nice. If everyone was like Kyle we would have fewer wars, less suffering, more global prosperity and more happiness. That is a satirists worst nightmare! Which is why Kyle, I must unfortunately consider you to be very dangerous and subversive. Nice, but troublesome, I'm afraid. You are a humanist. I am an involuntary misanthrope. Like the Nihilistic bottle, I believe.

But if I had to pick one person to rescue me from a burning building it would be you. Or Phil. Both of you.

I sense that you may be attempting to turn Phil against me. He may be even nicer than you. Another person threatening the satirist's world order.
No fun to provoke, because then I feel guilty. Which is why I fully appreciate bottle and budge--who like Watcher has gone into hiding and refuses too engage me.

So you Kyle are the good guy, and I play the villain. I used to be that good guy, but then I had several concussions and it changed my personality. Prior to 2010, I was a technically good, but rather boring writer. My TBI condition has caused me to become much edgier, greatly influencing my evolving literary style. I love gonzo journalism. But you knew that.

However Kyle, we'll always have Coto de Caza. Won't we? Which is to say that we may be very different, but we are brethren of the Cult of Braden, which surprisingly is not the case with everyone here.

But I know how to draw budge from out behind his Swedish mansion where he ponders the Nature of Suffering--much like the Budda himself who was also very, very wealthy. He is one of the world's most famous Recreational Existential Adventurers.

If I am ever to commune with budge I guess I must write about tennis. A topic that I have written troves about and now find very uninteresting. Now I feel a little bit like budge--complaining about the insignificant.

All I need to do to bring budge out like wack-a-mole himself is to bring up his favorite subject. Bill Scanlon. I have recently been thinking the following: I was not aware that Scanlon--who really was just about as classically efficient as it gets--has wins over all of those Grand Slam Champs. With three wins over McEnroe! Thanks you for supplying that info budge--our unoffocial historian.

I know there is no precedent for this, but nevertheless I'm going to put it out there. Since Scanlon has these wins, I think that he should be enshrined at Newport Rhode Island, in the World Tennis Hall of Fame. I'd like to solicit opinions on this matter.

I must admit that I am partial to Scanlon. I got to meet him in either 1977 or '78. He was a very nice guy. I was introduced to him at Indian Wells when the tournament was played at Mission Hills. I'm sure that budge will be able to pin point the year when I tell him that McEnroe lost to Teltscher that year, I believe in three sets. I'm not sure. Two really ugly tennis games there, though. It took me quite a while to recover from that. Who remembers how Teltscher thrust his ass out backward on his topspin backhand?

My good friend Peter Pearson was in the tournament that year. He was a fringe ATP player who never got above about 120 in the world. He is now serving a life sentence in California for bank robbery, and other stuff. That's a whole other story for some other time.

I watched them play a practice match on one of the back courts. I just loved Scanlons clean, no frills game. In that era I also loved the way that Gerulaitus, Gottfried, Ramirez and Sandy Mayer played. Also simple, efficient, beautiful.

This is another reason, I must admit, I did not like McEnroe. He was quirky and unorthodox. Yes, a genius. But an ugly one.

So now budge--come out, come out wherever you are. Tell us what year Teltscher beat McEnroe. And whether you agree that Scanlon should be in the Hall.

It's not about being nice, it's about being real.

Kyle LaCroix USPTA
Boca Raton

[gzhpcu]

Thanks Phil. But I wouldn't have the time or patience to teach them. My name is not on the ballot this year because I'm not old enough (gotta be 35 to run)All I can do is wait for 2020...then the revolution begins.

Kyle LaCroix USPTA
Boca Raton

And it all started here....

[tennis_chiro]

Mac was a senior in high school in the spring of '77. Still at Stanford the spring of '78. He lost to Teltscher 7-6 in the third in February '79 at Rancho Mirage. But he had also lost to Elliot shortly after enrolling at Stanford in September '77 in Los Angeles, 7-5 in the third.

don

[JeffMac]

I'm So Relieved...

to discover that someone still hates me. Thank you bottle. You've saved me from irrelvancy. I was hoping to go to war with Kyle because he is too nice. If everyone was like Kyle we would have fewer wars, less suffering, more global prosperity and more happiness. That is a satirists worst nightmare! Which is why Kyle, I must unfortunately consider you to be very dangerous and subversive. Nice, but troublesome, I'm afraid. You are a humanist. I am an involuntary misanthrope. Like the Nihilistic bottle, I believe.

But if I had to pick one person to rescue me from a burning building it would be you. Or Phil. Both of you.

I sense that you may be attempting to turn Phil against me. He may be even nicer than you. Another person threatening the satirist's world order.
No fun to provoke, because then I feel guilty. Which is why I fully appreciate bottle and budge--who like Watcher has gone into hiding and refuses too engage me.

So you Kyle are the good guy, and I play the villain. I used to be that good guy, but then I had several concussions and it changed my personality. Prior to 2010, I was a technically good, but rather boring writer. My TBI condition has caused me to become much edgier, greatly influencing my evolving literary style. I love gonzo journalism. But you knew that.

However Kyle, we'll always have Coto de Caza. Won't we? Which is to say that we may be very different, but we are brethren of the Cult of Braden, which surprisingly is not the case with everyone here.

But I know how to draw budge from out behind his Swedish mansion where he ponders the Nature of Suffering--much like the Budda himself who was also very, very wealthy. He is one of the world's most famous Recreational Existential Adventurers.

If I am ever to commune with budge I guess I must write about tennis. A topic that I have written troves about and now find very uninteresting. Now I feel a little bit like budge--complaining about the insignificant.

All I need to do to bring budge out like wack-a-mole himself is to bring up his favorite subject. Bill Scanlon. I have recently been thinking the following: I was not aware that Scanlon--who really was just about as classically efficient as it gets--has wins over all of those Grand Slam Champs. With three wins over McEnroe! Thanks you for supplying that info budge--our unoffocial historian.

I know there is no precedent for this, but nevertheless I'm going to put it out there. Since Scanlon has these wins, I think that he should be enshrined at Newport Rhode Island, in the World Tennis Hall of Fame. I'd like to solicit opinions on this matter.

I must admit that I am partial to Scanlon. I got to meet him in either 1977 or '78. He was a very nice guy. I was introduced to him at Indian Wells when the tournament was played at Mission Hills. I'm sure that budge will be able to pin point the year when I tell him that McEnroe lost to Teltscher that year, I believe in three sets. I'm not sure. Two really ugly tennis games there, though. It took me quite a while to recover from that. Who remembers how Teltscher thrust his ass out backward on his topspin backhand?

My good friend Peter Pearson was in the tournament that year. He was a fringe ATP player who never got above about 120 in the world. He is now serving a life sentence in California for bank robbery, and other stuff. That's a whole other story for some other time.

I watched them play a practice match on one of the back courts. I just loved Scanlons clean, no frills game. In that era I also loved the way that Gerulaitus, Gottfried, Ramirez and Sandy Mayer played. Also simple, efficient, beautiful.

This is another reason, I must admit, I did not like McEnroe. He was quirky and unorthodox. Yes, a genius. But an ugly one.

So now budge--come out, come out wherever you are. Tell us what year Teltscher beat McEnroe. And whether you agree that Scanlon should be in the Hall.

Or like a 1761-established restaurant at the lower end of the killer mountain road where my friend Sandy and I used to sled in Garrison, New York, The Bird & Bottle (http://www.thebirdandbottleinn.com/).

[klacr]

I am a Kyle fan! Kyle for president! (I think a lot of the candidates could learn how to behave from Kyle...)

Thanks Phil. But I wouldn't have the time or patience to teach them. My name is not on the ballot this year because I'm not old enough (gotta be 35 to run)All I can do is wait for 2020...then the revolution begins.

Kyle LaCroix USPTA
Boca Raton

[bottle]

Or like a 1761-established restaurant at the lower end of the killer mountain road where my friend Sandy and I used to sled in Garrison, New York, The Bird & Bottle (http://www.thebirdandbottleinn.com/).

[bottle]

I'm sad tonight because I have not be been attacked by either budge or bottle. budge and bottle. Sounds like a doubles team.

You shouldn't have placated me!

[gzhpcu]

I am a Kyle fan! Kyle for president! (I think a lot of the candidates could learn how to behave from Kyle...)

[klacr]

It's nice to be important but it's more important to be nice.

As far as sending you scathing emails, not sure what that would ever accomplish in the purpose of my growth and understanding. I'm sure we all have different reasons for joining this forum, I have mine, and mine are not to incite, enrage or instigate fury, madness or disappointment but to learn more about tennis and become a better teacher. That's not to say that I don't have strong opinions on tennis and life, trust me, I have some wild ones, ones that would make even the most radical blush, but my opinions are secondary to my main goal and I choose to focus on what will make me better.

Everyone on this forum adds to the discussion and flavor of the dialogue. Much like a mirepoix aids in the aromatics of a great dish. If they were all like me it would be pretty boring and If I was like all of them, it would skew or sway the tone and also be pretty boring. I appreciate everyone on this forum for what they provide, not what they may take away. Even if what they provide may not coincide with my opinions, its always great to hear their passion in written form. Carry on.

Kyle LaCroix USPTA
Boca Raton

[JeffMac]

You're Too Nice!!

Thanks Kyle. That was very interesting. Really. I wish you were mean like Watcher, budge and bottle. It's hard to be snarky with you. Could you do something for me? Send me some mean emails attacking my character so that I can send you scathing responses.

I'm sad tonight because I have not be been attacked by either budge or bottle. budge and bottle. Sounds like a doubles team. And you're too kind.

Here you go...Posted on October 6th 2014 at 01:37 PM

[tennis_chiro]

thank you.

Tine Scheuer-Larsen
Yaroslavl Shvedova
Julian Reister


The other ones listed were not officially sanctioned world tour events or fed/davis cup.

Kyle LaCroix USPTA
Boca Raton

Kind of off the theme of the thread, but the Shvedova match was against Errani in a year when Errani was #1 in the world in doubles and less than a year from when Errani achieved a #5 in the world in singles ranking.

don

[klacr]

Yes. Le Qwa. Heckler in his latter years was much "bigger" than the Great One to whom I still communicate telepathically. Tim--God rest his soul-- spent too much time at the Soup Plantation.

I miss Vic. Is there one story you can provide us from your Travels with Vic? Anything. Did you get any traffic tickets? Did you eat at Der Wienerschnitzel? He loved their menu. Golf maybe? Church? He was quite religious. But, what am I doing nere? You tell us. Please. Thanks.

And by the way, I put my right hand on Tennis for the Future the other day. I looked skyward and whispered: "Do you remember Le Qwa?"

The following day I received the answer: "Yes, I do."

Here you go...Posted on October 6th 2014 at 01:37 PM

Subscribers and forum regulars,

I don't like to start threads close to when John Yandell publishes his new issues because I rather have the focus be on the great work of John and all the other contributors that make it possible, but I feel this thread is warranted.

I just received word that Vic Braden has passed away. First Welby Van Horn and now Vic Braden. One great tennis mind needed a companion up in heaven I guess. Vic's research, analysis and overall passion for teaching, learning and sharing the game was inspiring and infectious. I had the ultimate privilege of spending personal time with Mr. Braden. I picked him up at the airport to drive him to the Ferris State University campus. The ride normally lasts 50 minutes or so from Gerald R. Ford International Airport in Grand Rapids.

As Vic got in my car, a flood of information, stories, anecdotes and life advice was given to me. I was eating all of it up. I began seeing mile signs for our destination that was approaching. As each sign passed, the number began to shrink signaling we were getting closer to the end of our personal "drive time". So I took matters into my own hands and drove off the interstate onto a rural dirt road. A scenic route of sorts. The idea was not to show Mr. Braden the beauty of Western Michigan in the spring time, it was to prolong our time together. Every minute with Vic was more information for my brain to soak up and soak in. We finally arrived at our destination. After two hours! That decision to extend the drive, keep Mr. Braden hostage unbeknownst to him, and extract as much of his time and attention was truly a selfish move on my part. But it is one selfish maneuver I do not regret.

We kept in touch after his trip to Michigan. He offered me an opportunity to work with him and we exchanged numerous emails with one another offering advice and words of support for each other's latest projects.

I hope they get tennisplayer.net in heaven. I hope Vic reads this. I hope he enjoyed his time during that drive as much as I did. Tennis has lost a pioneer and a tennis fan.

Kyle LaCroix USPTA
Boca Raton

[klacr]

Yes. Le Qwa. Heckler in his latter years was much "bigger" than the Great One to whom I still communicate telepathically. Tim--God rest his soul-- spent too much time at the Soup Plantation.

I miss Vic. Is there one story you can provide us from your Travels with Vic? Anything. Did you get any traffic tickets? Did you eat at Der Wienerschnitzel? He loved their menu. Golf maybe? Church? He was quite religious. But, what am I doing nere? You tell us. Please. Thanks.

And by the way, I put my right hand on Tennis for the Future the other day. I looked skyward and whispered: "Do you remember Le Qwa?"

The following day I received the answer: "Yes, I do."

I've told the story a few years back on this forum. May have to search for it.

Kyle LaCroix USPTA
Boca Raton

[JeffMac]

We Are Sympatico At Last...

bottle...Yes, Trump will be president not so much for anything he believes. I was guilty in trying to identify an actual policy position that some might care about. Truth be told, I was being too cute by half. His attitude, confidence and body language will do the trick.

It brings to mind that Sammel article: Locker Room Power. There was nothing new in there. But it was so profound.

We are ready for the anti-Obama. It's a classic example of a "political reaction formation."

I really like your Fatalism, with it's (sic) juicy patina of Nihilism. The latter is immensely more appealing and attractive than the dangerous Anarchism that drips like blood off the majority of posts of a certain someone else who tends to be somewhat active on this website. Too active actually.

What's his name? Help me.

The deal is that Nihilism contains the qixotic appeal of "oblivion" and an "oceanic experience." It explains the presence of "death cults" throughout history.

Anarchism, on the other hand, is scary. It brings to mind images of spoiled, rich punks wearing red head bands, rampaging through the streets of Long Island with Dunlop Fort racquets screaming, and breaking down the social order.

And so yes..the American Empire is in decline. And just like with Rome it will be due more to the enemy within--which was formerly the enemy without. Slow infiltration by involuntary sabateurs rather than stampeding foreign armies will eventually crack the coconut.

Bring on the night. "The Big Sleep"

I liked both of these interviews. Tennis player and other athlete interviews are predictably awful-- back then and now and forever-- so McEnroe and Scanlon here are remarkable exceptions.

As the result of the usual fare I have come to detest ballboys and ballgirls. They simply have been thanked too much. So let's put them in a rocket and send them to the Andromeda Galaxy, but eating them will be less expensive.

Now as to Trump: That last post of JeffMac is pretty great. (I loved the energy of it and therefore had to read it out loud. Try it, reader, I dare you.) But JeffMac brings up the pending presidency of Donald Trump, throws it in my face as it were.

But is Trump's election news? Of course he is going to win. Because his name is Trump. No other explanation is as good.

But who cares? The world had to end sometime, didn't it? We who still are alive will simply look for small amusements to pass the time-- which won't be long-- until the end of the Roman-- I mean American empire-- and with it the relegation of Earth...

Well, there won't be any historian around, but if there were, Doris Kearns Goodwin would write, "First there were Kochroaches. Then there were cockroaches."

[JeffMac]

"Big" Difference...

Yes. Le Qwa. Heckler in his latter years was much "bigger" than the Great One to whom I still communicate telepathically. Tim--God rest his soul-- spent too much time at the Soup Plantation.

I miss Vic. Is there one story you can provide us from your Travels with Vic? Anything. Did you get any traffic tickets? Did you eat at Der Wienerschnitzel? He loved their menu. Golf maybe? Church? He was quite religious. But, what am I doing nere? You tell us. Please. Thanks.

And by the way, I put my right hand on Tennis for the Future the other day. I looked skyward and whispered: "Do you remember Le Qwa?"

The following day I received the answer: "Yes, I do."

I met Mr. Braden and drove him in 2003. You met him at a convention in 1993. He didn't know me back then. No career in the NFL for me, I think this tennis thing is working out just fine.
Confident it wasn't Tim Heckler. There's a "big" difference.

Kyle LaCroix USPTA
Boca Raton