I was amazed. It looked like an
intimate gala, complete with cafe's nice shops and VIP tents. The crowd was
filled with Hollywood lovers of tennis and the matches the best tennis I
have ever seen. You may have read how much I enjoyed the Pacific Life Open
last May. This tournament was equally as good, and it's matches far better.
This cannot be bought or staged. On some days two opponents collide in
exactly the right way. But what was so amazing about this years
Mercedes-Benz Cup was the matches were this amazing in the quarters, semi's
and finals. And the magic seemed to surround Tommy Haas, the former #2 in
the world from Germany. While I had press passes, it did not hurt that I
went to the matches with Tommy Haas's former roommate of 10 years at
Bollettieri Academy, Alex Bose. Bose is a professional tennis player that is
in the process of moving to Las Vegas, and it was interesting to get the
inside look at a champions inner circle.
Here I was with Bose when Haas's coach "Red"
called Bose down in the semifinals to sit in the coaches box. Bose indicated
he had to stay with the group he came with. At this point "Red," said to bring
all four of us. In the group was Alex's friends Brittany, David Harris and
Mark Kreisberger. David and Marc are beginner tennis players at Turnberry
Place. They were stunned with their court side view and expressed this in
sincere cheers, almost naive and exuberant in nature. All of a sudden the
stadium is quiet and Marc Kreisberger, a 3.0 player from Vegas sitting in the
coaches box yells out loud, "Come on Hasi, first serve." As the seasoned
tennis fan sat by, Marc Kreisberger and David Harris were on the edge of their
seats cheering loudly and passionately, knowing no different. Soon the whole
crowd began to add in and in minutes the stadium continued yells and cheers
for Haas. Myself, I was quiet, knowing the coach's box was a place of refuge
for Haas, a place he concentrated on, almost shutting out the rest of the
stadium. Words from his coach "Red" and friend "Bose" were heard and accepted.
I was not led to interfere with that. But as I saw Dave and Marc intermingle
their cheers with the statements of Haas's coach, I saw that somehow this was
how it was supposed to be, it was right. I, however stayed quiet and observed
Haas's commentary to his coach and Alex. To the crowd one might MIS read it as
anger, but what I saw was a competitor that knew there is no time for
celebration when Agassi or Kiefer are your opponent. There is only time for
complete focus, and to achieve this, an inner rage was mustered and maintained
through the dialogue with Red which kept Haas alert and in the now.
What amazed me about Haas's commitment to stay
in this awareness, was when he had come back in the tie breaker being down to
Kiefer 5-1 to tie it 5-5. Then Haas was down 6-5, with Kiefer serving for the
set. Haas, 4 1/2 feet away, looked over at Red, over at Alex, at this point,
over at the whole box, and yelled "PRESSURE"... as if to say "I love
pressure....." At this point I knew he was a champion.
I am not impressed with tennis players, anyone
for that matter. I do not care what your achievement is. It is meaningless,
without meaning. And the only way to achieve meaning is to have the pressure,
and to, as Haas did, jump on top of it and ride it into the sky. He could have
been lost in "Thought" about losing the last point, tie break and set... about
the crowd, about it all... but instead he was here now, awake, alive and
yelled "PRESSURE," sharing that inner rage with us at the most perfect time.
Then Kiefer double faulted and Haas won the
first set.
The same kind of pressure comes to each of us
in our own tournaments, on the court and at home. With kids it might be the
pressure of worries or doubts, with adults, the same. And the only way to walk
away a champion is to see that pressure as a lie coming to you and overcome
it. Over come the "Thoughts" which try to make you upset, or unfocussed, lost
in a day dream. Have you ever been playing tennis and all of a sudden you lose
focus on now and begin to day dream? On the pro tour there is no time for
that. Have you ever been about to serve and "Thoughts" come trying to pull you
away, or "feelings" are created by these "thoughts" to tempt you to worry. You
can succumb or rise above. You can believe these "Thoughts" and fall prey to
them, or do as Tommy did, see them as lies and eat them alive. "PRESSURE"
The LA Open was complete with the Hollywood A
list, and it was no coincidence that Marc Kreisberger, David Harris, Alex Bose
and Brittany, without effort ended up in the middle of it. Matthew Perry of
"FRIENDS," Jon Lovitz, the comedian, the Brian Brothers, and of course Alex's
friend and Mercedes-Benz Cup Champion Tommy Haas, stopped and talked with
them.
How perfect was it that we go with Alex Bose
and Haas beats Andre Agassi in the quarters and Kiefer in the finals in some
of the best 3 set tennis I have ever seen. It was the first time Bose saw his
former roommate, practice and doubles partner win a major pro event, even
though Haas has won many. Most notable was his win against Roddick weeks ago
in Houston, because it showed that after his 16 month off the tour, he still
had what it takes to regain that #2 position.
Haas has overcome some other "Pressure" as
well, and when I went into the press room I was silent, asking nothing,
because with the same innocent and honest expression that Dave and Marc
cheered him on, he opened up immediately saying how amazing it was that here
he was playing on a Friday night in front of thousands of people on national
TV, against his child hood hero. He was so real about what he was saying that
it came out perfectly. Asked by the press about his parents near fatal
accident and his career threatening injury that kept him off the tour for over
16 months, he again was real explaining how the lie tried to come to him with
"Thoughts " of quitting, how rehab was so hard and so alone, that at times the
lie tried to make him think it would be easier to wrap it up, to quit. "But
tonight made all that worth it," he described how he knew when he searched his
soul that he was led to play the game, and no amount of "PRESSURE" was going
to kill that inside him. He instead would kill the doubt and go on to win the
Mercedes Benz-Cup in three sets, on center court at the beautiful UCLA TENNIS
CENTER.
Sponsored by Mercedes-Benz, and COUNTRYWIDE
HOME LOANS, everything was immaculate, including the Mercedes-Benz Cup and
post match presentation. Here Kiefer was good natured and sincere. This guy is
a champion, and I have no doubt he will continue to be a presence. Then came
Haas, who thanked the fans and Mercedes-Benz, and then, moved to a sincere
note thanking "RED, my coach of ten years" and Alex (Bose) and all the guys he
brought up to support me. It was charming. And Red, who may have had his
moments, months, or days of pressure as well, was enjoying the moment.
It is amazing how life has it's twists and
turns, and I have found that if you just adhere to what you intuitively know
is right, and not follow the mental lies doubts, worries, fears and angers,
all comes together. Such was the case.
As if that was not enough, there were so many
other key parts of the weekend that made it complete. David Pate and his
family were on hand to participate in an event that has become a family
tradition for almost 20 years. David Pate won this event in the singles and
doubles in the late 80's and won the doubles again in the early ninety's. His
name and likeness were displayed all over the event and mentioned each time he
walked onto the court to play in the over 35 division. On Sunday he played the
Jenson brothers on center court with his partner Scott David and won in front
of the crowd before the main event. He told VegasTennis.com junior reporter
Julia Baltas and the crowd how great it was to be back, a tournament he once
dominated with his 137 mile an hour serve. Pate, the best player to ever play
out of Vegas, next to Pancho Gonzales and Agassi, beat Agassi, Chang and
Stephan Adberg in the final of the Mercedes-Benz Cup in 1987, and it seemed
just like yesterday. Life moves quickly, so while it is here, be here and now
and enjoy each step. Live it so in the end, whether you win or lose the match,
or deal, or skill, you have a knowing in yourself that you did so with class,
honesty, and respect for the truth. Because in the end that is all that
matters. Had Haas lost this weekend, still he would be a champion for that
focus he showed on the court. Sometimes you do everything right and you still
do not get the trophy. But the inner reward is the most amazing of gifts. Take
it at all times, it is your to choose. Or not. It is up to you.
Also present from Las Vegas was Anita Lee and
Julia Baltas. Julia and Anita won VegasTennis.com's LAS VEGAS SKIN AND CANCER
CLINIC Circuit, with the most points accumulated over the three junior
tournament circuit, which included MOBILE MEDICAL SERVICES BALLY'S CUP,
CLUBSPORT SUMMER KICKOFF AND JALDEEP DAULAT'S INDIAN OPEN. The girls had a
blast meeting and getting signatures from all the stars. Julia Baltas, who
writes numerous articles for this web site, earned a press pass for her
dedicated work to VegasTennis. With this she had a chance to sit with and
interview the Brian Brothers, Tommy Haas, "Red," David Pate, and numerous
others. Her father John Baltas, always involved in local tennis, was there
enjoying the experience with his daughter and her new found friend Anita Lee.
Then Trenton Alenik, also the Las Vegas Skin and Cancer Clinic Circuit winner
and Christopher Painter were there, along with Frideric Prandecki, his friend
Mike from Poland, The Capps family, including Jesse, The Tang Family and the
Gibson family. Kamran Linden and Eric were having a lot of fun, as Kamran
seemed to be everywhere each time I looked around. In the press credentials
booth I ran into former Las Vegas junior tennis player Danny Harrington. Danny
is now Assistant Sports Information Director at UCLA and was assisting the
Press Director. We talked about his time in junior tennis in Las Vegas, and of
course, how VegasTennis has been on fire. Keep in touch. You are invited to
join the ride and participate any way you are led to.
