parents immigrated here from Sierra Leone, with next to nothing. Frances will play Taylor Fritz in one semi final match Friday.

I follow Tiafoe on twitter. What an interesting guy. He doesn't have the size or power of other Americans like Taylor Fritz, Tommy Paul, Ben Shelton.. but he plays his butt off.

I cut the cord on my cable several years ago so when work takes me out of town I always watch the Golf and Tennis channels. So last year I got to see Jessica Pegula win the Canadian Open. She has been on a roll for a while now. In doubles and mixed doubles too.

I know she's a rich girl who has led a privileged life, and to tell the truth, I used to kinda resent her a little because of that, but I don't any more. Wealth and privilege don't necessarily preclude success in life on one's own merits. I watched the Gauff-Navarro match the other day but didn't realize she was a rich girl too. I'm not going to hold that against either Pegula or Navarro. I wish them both well. I am glad that the U.S. Open women's champion this year is going to be a first-time winner of that tournament. I always like when that happens. Spread the wealth around. Sabalenka, Muchova, Navarro or Pegula. Sabalenka is a two-time Grand Slam champion, but she has never won this particular Grand Slam.

-- Ron

Totally agree .. like I posted above I watched Jessica Pegula win the Canadian Open last year. She is easy to root for and a real fighter.

homeless shelter?

I remember the inner city kids Arthur Ashe set up his Richmond training program to assist. It is THEY (and players with histories similar) that I will root for--not spoiled billionaire's spawn)

You think it unfair to this woman who has had every opportunity available to make her the player she is today? I say it is unfair to all the struggling, hard-working players who never ad a SINGLE advantage. Unfair? I don't give a damn. $$$$$$ should not rule all.

To be one of the best on the planet in any sport, you still have to put in a LOT of hard work. I don't think we should be unappreciative of those accomplishments just because somebody happened to have been born into a wealthy family.

-- Ron

I actually have some respect for these rich kids who, despite not needing to worry about wealth accumulation ever, they still are willing to put in the massive amount of work to reach the top in their field.
I started thinking about someone like Steph Curry. His dad was a 12 year NBA player with a TV job. His mom was a local TV personality. No worries about money, at all.
Yet, he put in the work to become a revolutionary player, and inarguably one of the greatest shooters ever. Arguably, the beat. And, he kept getting better even after he had made his money.
There's something admirable about that type of focus.
In contrasts directly to a lazy, self-centered rich kid who never worked a day in his life, then accidentally became POTUS.

That's where I am with this too. I appreciate someone like Julia Louis-Dreyfus who could have sat back and counted the billion$ her family has but became successful in her own right.

Julia Louis-Dreyfus is not only talented but but seems to be a really good person too.

Steph Curry was a great example. Here's an interesting 2 minute video I found a few months ago where Dell Curry speaks to the work Steph put in.

Last edited Thu Sep 5, 2024, 07:47 AM - Edit history (1)

sans billionaire parents or benefactors. I will root against these women--always. Sorry. I do not want billionaires to take over all sport.

NYTimes/Athletic with Emma Navarro

Link to tweet