TENNIS, POLITICS AND HISTORY – By Ryan Wolfington

Written by: Staff on 8th November 2012

TENNIS, POLITICS AND HISTORY - By Ryan Wolfington

epa03388510 Bob Byran (L) and Mike Bryan (R) of the US celebrate their win over Leander Paes of India and Radek Stepanek of the Czech Republic in the men's doubles final on the twelfth day of the 2012 US Open Tennis Championship at the USTA National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York, USA, 07 September 2012. The US Open runs through Sunday 09 September 2012. EPA/JOHN G. MABANGLO |

Tennis has been part of the political landscape for a very long time. It seems the first tennis courts in America were built around 1878, at Longwood Cricket Club in Massachusetts, the Merion Cricket Club and, the world’s oldest country club, The Philadelphia Cricket Club in Pennsylvania, clubs I played at growing up.

In the beginning, tennis was considered the sport for kings and queens. For America that meant Presidents and Senators. You don’t have to look far to find the influence of tennis in American politics. Buried in unmarked halls in the Dirksen Senate Office Building is what many have dubbed “The highest court in the land” since the private indoor court for “Senators only” sits higher in the skyline than the Supreme Court.

Senators for years played tennis on these courts, building bipartisan relationships for important legislation over a game of doubles. Thanks to my uncle Vince Wolfington, I was able to bring some of our Foundation youth to Washington D.C. a few summers ago. The youth had the chance to sit and talk with the late Senator Kennedy in his office, and hear him speak about how important tennis was in his life, both personally and politically. Kennedy explained how he and President Kennedy played tennis as children in Hyannisport, how later he used those skills to meet key people to get important things accomplished. He said, “I got more legislation done on the tennis court than anywhere else.” It was a place where Senators let their guard down.

Kennedy continued to speak with his picture perfect dog by his side. He talked about his proudest accomplishments as a Senator. He emphasized most to the youth how playing the game of tennis will open doors and create relationships that could change the direction of their lives. He told the story of his close friend and tennis partner, Lee Fentress. Lee, he said, used a doubles game to get to know the Dean of the Law School at the University of Virginia, where he eventually got admitted. He explained how playing tennis led to Fentress starting ProServe (In Washington D.C.), one of the most prestigious sports marketing firms in the world, with Donald Dell and Ray Benton (Now a USTA National board member). ProServe grew to 200-plus athletes under contract, including Michael Jordan, Denis Potvin, Dave Winfield and Jimmy Connors. Kennedy spoke of the doubles match with the Dean as the turning point for Fentress.

The trip to D.C. also afforded the children the opportunity to play tennis on the famous tennis court in the Senate, with former Nevada Senator John Ensign, who is a strong 4.0. They played doubles with former Pennsylvania Senator and Presidential candidate Rick Santorum. Rick’s brother Dan runs the Professional Tennis Registry (PTR)!

Tennis got these youngsters onto this special court and later, into the private dining room for “Senators only.” It was tennis that got them a private tour of the White House by President Bush’s niece. President Bush championed and loved tennis as much, if not more, than any other President. A staple at the Grand Slams, an avid player, Bush went few places without his racket.

Tennis opens doors for everyone, including politicians. And, politicians open doors for tennis. Looking back at Nevada politics you can see how certain politicians championed the opportunity for the masses to play a game formerly only made available at the nicest of country clubs. All over the country you see local and state governments making beautiful parks to bring communities together no matter what their race or socio-economic background.

One thing that is clear in this year’s Presidential race is how divided this country is. Community parks (especially those including tennis courts) bring people together, people that may not look the same, act the same or have the same financial background. When this happens I think we start to see that all human beings at our core are the same.

Doesn’t everyone want to live a positive, peaceful life? Don’t we all want to be the best we can be? All of us have compassion when people are in need and know best when it is time to say no. I think we know tennis at times “takes a village”, yet at other times, is all about self-sufficiency, an individual sport.

All of us strive to inspire our families and friends to greatness, I think we just have different ideas on how to achieve this goal. Some feel more help and inspiration should come from the government, while others feel the government should let individuals and private groups do more of the inspiring and helping.

There are examples when the people and private groups have done extraordinary things to help the American people, and there are examples where government has done the same.

I have a men’s 4.5 singles tournament match tonight. Clearly, I will fight like hell to be my best and win the competition. I will compete, hard. At the end I will be equally as diligent at having a good attitude with my opponent, respecting his efforts, win or lose. I hope this election will be the same.

No matter what your politics, tennis has been used for years to bring people together, to compete, find solutions, overcome adversity, and bridge gaps, in an ongoing quest to better oneself. Politicians have used the sport of tennis to further this goal, for our country and for themselves. President Bush Sr. used tennis to clear his mind. Kennedy to pass legislation. Obama’s children play weekly, his daughter for her high school tennis team. Ann Romney played league tennis competitively for years!

Thanks to Nevada pro Craig Witcher’s inspiration, our own Commissioner Weekly plays USTA-Nevada league and cannot get enough of it. His passion led to his helping get Lorenzi Park renovated! Commissioner Larry Brown’s passion for sports in general inspired his support of the Darling Tennis Center and a new six court facility just finished up at Lone Mountain. Mayor Caroline Goodman took lessons for years with Marty Hennessy, as did her children. She and former Mayor Oscar Goodman championed the Tennis Channel Open and brought professional tennis back to Las Vegas! Senate majority leader Harry Reid has children and grandchildren that play tennis. Let’s not forget the monumental cultural shift inspired in part by tennis legend Billy Jean King in the battle of the sexes.

Tennis has been good for politics and plays a significant part in our country’s history. Politics have been equally good for tennis.

This web site will not make any endorsements, other than to say we favor heavily any politician that plays, supports, and is connected to this great game!

Politicians involved in tennis:

Ann Romney plays league

Obama children take lessons and play high school tennis.

Commissioner Weekly plays league and as a city councilman he helped support Darling Tennis Center, Tennis Channel Open and helped get Lorenzi Park, in his ward, fully renovated.

Commissioner Larry Brown helped support Darling Tennis Center and bring Tennis Channel Open to Las Vegas when he was a City Councilman. Now a Commissioner he helped have six tennis courts built at Lone Mountain.

City Councilman Ricki Barlow supports and helps Lorenzi Racket club, which is in his ward, and his son plays.

Commissioner Susan Brager plays tennis

Mayor Pro-tem City Councilman Stavros Anthony supports Darling Tennis Center

Mayor Caroline Goodman and her family all play tennis and have supported the Tennis Channel Open and all city facilities.

Majority Leader Senator Reid has children and grandchildren that play tennis

Former Senator Ensign is a 4.0 player

Historical Facts

1850 Phildelphia Cricket Club opened it’s doors

1865 Merion Cricket Club opened it’s doors

1877 Longwood Cricket opened it’s doors

1878 Longwood Cricket club added tennis

1881 Merion Cricket Club and Philadelphia Cricket Club added a tennis court