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| Billie Jean National Tennis Center awaits |
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| Pee Wee's Globey |
As a fan of both tennis and travel, I have always dreamed of going
to all of the Gland Slams. But even the small goal of getting to the US Open in
New York was not achievable until I emptied the nest. By the end of August, the
school system has us by the throat. But
this year the nest emptied just in time to make my first slam dream come
true.
My friend Kathleen, who is both a good traveler and companion,
with a fine sense of direction, jumped on the idea. She lined up the hotel and
the transportation. I bought a ticket package called the “Premiere Wrap-Up Plan”
to attend five sessions Wednesday through Friday of the first week. That’s key, because all the players are still in contention
and the prices are somewhat reasonable. Our seats in Arthur Ashe Stadium were
in the nosebleed section, but somehow it didn't matter because we were rarely
there. You only need the reserved seats for that one stadium. Beyond that you are
free to roam to any of the 16 side courts, and see some of the finest tennis
players on earth at close range.
The vibe of the US Open crowd is high end. It helps to have some
sort of corporate affiliation such as American Express (all cardholders receive
mini earpiece radios which stream the live broadcast. This tool was a multitasker’s
dream. I could listen to the announcers in one ear, my friend with the other
ear, while walking, talking and even eating). Chase Bank members (Kathleen) were
granted entrance to a big beautiful air conditioned lounge with cold beverages and
salty snacks. All I had was a membership in the Starwood hotels chain, which
entitled me to spin a wheel of fortune for a chance to win a free trip. No luck.
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| Kathleen and I and "the thing in my ear" |
The food plaza had offerings you won’t see at many other
sporting events. Like Moet & Chandon and Gray Goose vodka, oh
and pretty good food too. The only thing I have ever been offered at a Redskins
game is a free topping on Papa John’s Pizza for every touchdown scored.
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| A little something for the high flyers |
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| And the bubbly crowd |
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| The tennis lovers |
Being there is completely different from watching tennis in
the comfort of your home on a big flat screen TV (most people’s default excuse
for not attending live sporting events). I have always preferred men’s tennis
to women’s. So kill me, I like men better. But being in the stadium when Venus
Williams is playing brings out the pride of a (largely) US crowd with
tens of thousands of people cheering and willing her to win. It’s powerful.
And when you think about it, the Williams sisters have done more for American
tennis in the recent decades than anyone else, Even if they are women. I like
them now.
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| Venus is down there, I swear |
The first question everyone asks when you return is who did
you see? I saw Venus, I saw Andy Murray, I saw Djokvic, I saw Sam Querrey. We
also got a good look at the broadcast set-up for Hannah Storm and Chrissy and Brad.
Tony Bennett took a bow for the crowd at an evening game.
As we were leaving the stadium the final night, I saw Geraldo Rivera
posing for a picture. He attended our alma mater, the University of Arizona when
he was Jerry Rivers. So I tugged on his blazer and said: “We went to U of A.” He
looked at me and, genuinely interested, said “Oh yeah? Bear Down.” “Bear Down Arizona” is our football fight
song. All you have to do is say “bear down” to prove your legitimacy as a
Wildcat. It’s like a secret handshake. My mother was always amused by this phrase
because she thought “bear down” was something you would more likely hear from a
birthing coach than a football coach.
But the best thing I saw was not the pros, broadcasters or celebs. It was the thousands of people who care as much about tennis as I do.
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