From Russia With Love, In Search Of Good Material
MOSCOW — It took three seconds. Maybe two. My feet had not yet left passport control in Sheremetyevo (Moscow) Airport when there was a voice and a face and a clipboard.
“You are . . . ” the woman began in strained English. She was wearing a white dress and too much lipstick and a pin, an “Intourist” pin, which meant she worked for the hotels designated for outsiders. And that I would not be left alone from here on in.
“Sports journalist,” I said. “American.”
“End yur name ees?”
FOR BORIS, IT WAS A SHOT HEARD ‘ROUND THE WORLD
WIMBLEDON, England — Oh, God, what a shot! The ball was a yellow blur coming down the line. Boris Becker dived for it and heard a slapping noise as he belly-flopped on the grass. Then nothing.”I was waiting for it to go past my ear,” he would say....
Navratilova Takes The Fifth At Wimbledonchampion Without A Country: Martina Stuck In The Middle
WIMBLEDON, England — She is still halfway between there and here, like an infant frozen in those first steps from mother to father. Behind Martina Navratilova is a country, a family, and now, five straight Wimbledon championships. Alongside her is a Texas estate, a woman friend, an American coach. Ahead of her still lies acceptance, a place in our hearts. And there is no telling when it will all come together.
‘BOBO’ LOSES NAME GAME, WON’T FACE ‘BOOM, BOOM’
WIMBLEDON — It was unbelievable.
It was unpronounceable.
“My name,” he said, “is Zivojinovic.”
Huh?
He served like a cannon. He moved like a Westinghouse. He was the tall, dark stranger at center court, taking chunks out of Ivan Lendl, the No. 1 player in the world.
“My name,” he said, with every smashing point, “is Zivojinovic!”
Huh?
Zivojinovic. Slobodan Zivojinovic. Pronounced like it’s spelled. I think. Who’s to say?
Lloyd Lost For One Reason: Mandlikova Outplayed Her
WIMBLEDON, England — Wait a minute. I like Chris Evert Lloyd, too, but the fact is she blew it. The way the American press was acting Thursday you’d think the Czechs had sent her a bomb disguised as a birthday cake.
“Tough break,” one reporter mumbled.
“She really wanted it,” said another.
Hey. Lloyd was up 5-2 and lost 14 straight points in the second set. Fourteen straight? And that was after missing an easy shot that sunk her in the first.
WHO CARES IF SHE LOST? SABATINI IS GORGEOUS!
WIMBLEDON, England — This was Gabriela Sabatini’s coming-out party. She sat down, her eyes flashed, and the male reporters swooned.At least, I think they swooned. Actually, I’m not sure what a swoon is. I’ve never seen a swoon. I’ve heard...
In Test Of Character, Lendl Gets Mayotte To Blink First
WIMBLEDON, England — The match had been going on forever. Back and forth. Ivan Lendl wins a game. Tim Mayotte wins a game. People shifted nervously in their seats. How long already? Two hours? Three hours? Back and forth.
“It goes to a tie-breaker, right?” someone whispered when the score went to 5-5 in the fifth set.
“They don’t play those at Wimbledon,” someone answered.
At Lily-White Wimbledon, Mcneil Proves She Belongs
WIMBLEDON, England — It must be a hell of a feeling to be a black player in a stadium filled with white fans and a white Princess and a white Countess wearing white gloves, with white line judges and white officials standing all around you.
Wimbledon: A Cash Course In Spectacular Comebacks
WIMBLEDON, England — Aw, who needs an appendix anyhow? Not Pat Cash. Not when he’s on Centre Court at Wimbledon, with Princess Di watching from the Royal Box, and a thousand teenage girls screaming from the stands, and the No. 2 player in the world, Mats Wilander, wilting across the net, going down, down and finally out.
Cashed out, so to speak.
So what if Cash was ranked No. 413 in the world coming in here? So what if he was about to turn down his wild card invitation — until an Aussie buddy said, “Ah, why not have a go, mate?”
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