The Life of Tony Trabert
Part 8

Mark Winters

From 1976 to 1980 Trabert served as Davis Cup captain. (He also served as playing captain in the 1953 US 5-0 defeat of Japan.) His debut took place at the Margaret Court Racquet Club Ranch, in Tucson, Arizona. Fred Stolle, whose pro career was winding down, was the Director of Tennis at the club. He and his wife, Pat were the hosts with gold standard entertaining for those who were on hand for the Davis Cup.

Stolle is an Aussie to the core. In Tucson, he was a wonderful raconteur with a rich and occasionally sarcastic sense of humor. Looking back, he remembered that the club had 30 lighted courts and that the site had been the home of the American Airlines Tennis Games in 1974 and 1975. Late in the afternoon when it was "cocktail time" the clubhouse windows offered a spectacular view of the countryside. Surrounded by mountains on three sides, the sunsets were always picturesque.

He reminded me that those were the days of "clinics…where you could learn to play in 15 minutes…" Another recollection was that Foster's came in cans that were the size of those that contained Valvoline Oil.

He has fond memories of Tucson not only for the good times he had, but, more important, for the array of friends he made. "Those were the days…" he concluded.

For me, it was another, being in the right place at the right time because, since the meeting, Stolle has become a friend.

In his initial Davis Cup tie, Trabert's team defeated Venezuela 5-0. Round II was not as fortuitous. The US lost to Mexico 3-2 at Estadio Rafael Osuna in Mexico City on clay.

Apartheid in 1977

In all my dealings with Trabert, it is hard to remember an instance when I saw him get angry. April 16, 1977, was one of the few exceptions. The US was playing South Africa at the Newport Beach Tennis Club, in Newport Beach, California. For many it wasn't a question of winning a Davis Cup tie, (which the US did, 4-1), it was tennis facing off against apartheid.

There were banner and poster waving protestors all three days. On Saturday, security was breeched. Two individuals jumped a tiny entrance gate and ran on the court during the third set of Bob Lutz and Stan Smith's, 7-5, 6-1, 3-6, 6-3 victory over the South Africans, Byron Bertram and Frew McMillan. They spilled oil on the court that took just short of an hour to clean up.

I watched Trabert as soon as it became clear what was taking place. He grabbed his C-6 Tony Trabert Graphite Racquet and went after the invaders. (Never before, during his time as captain, had he taken his racquet on court with him.) He clubbed one of the men while the police wrestled with the other. Once the skirmish ended. both individuals were handcuffed and taken to jail.

Prior to the tie there had been discussions between USTA officials and those organizing the event about the boycott efforts that were expected, along with worries about physical threats that could result. Both Hester and Trabert made it quite clear that neither they, nor other administrators in game, supported the apartheid practices found in South Africa.

But the country had a right to participate in Davis Cup play. Following the doubles match, Trabert said he reacted as he did because he had players on court and would do anything necessary to protect them.

The 1977 Davis Cup campaign ended at the Buenos Aires Lawn Tennis Club where Argentina defeated the US, 3-2, on clay.

Nixon

Three years earlier, during the 1974 Tony Trabert Tennis Camp season, we had occasionally talked about the Watergate investigation. When President Richard Nixon finally resigned on August 8th, Trabert was most disturbed by what it meant – For the country.

How would the US handle what was taking place? Long before "America First", became a tainted bully-banner for racism, he admitted winning the 1954 Davis Cup was his most cherished accomplishment because it was a triumph for America.

Being responsible, ethical and accountable were part and parcel of his character. That's why his reaction to the oil spilling didn't bring about a raving rant. What had taken place was wrong and that was all that he had needed to say.