Tennis

A Labor Day First: Top 10 U.S. Open Observer-ations ... From a Guy Who Just Wants a Chance To Work

By Richie Whitt
Sep 5, 2011

Carrollton's Kelly Dearmore emailed me with a simple request: I wanna write for Sportatorium. Being that he's a free-lance writer that has covered concerts for the Observer, he hates the New York Yankees and he loves him some tennis in general and one of my fave sporting events -- the U.S...
With Local Boy Mitchell Krueger, There's Hope For American Tennis

By Richie Whitt
Jun 6, 2011

Couple years ago I alerted you to a tennis phenom in our midst. At the time, Keller 14-year-old Mitchell Krueger was just trying to find his way onto the cover of Sports Illustrated for Kids. Over the weekend, he came this close to winning the French Open. Not the French Open...
Ladies and Gentlemen, the Greatest Shot in the History of Tennis

By Richie Whitt
Sep 14, 2009

Not really a local, Dallas-y angle here. Other than the fact that I know you guys appreciate sports greatness when you see it. And since this moment happened in the U.S. Open tennis semifinals while y'all were probably still high-fiving Cowboys 34, Bucs 21, perhaps you didn't see it...
Tennis, Anyone?!

By Richie Whitt
Jul 6, 2009

Sunday's instant classic Wimbledon final was one of those magical moments that only sports can provide. As Roger Federer and Andy Roddick battled past four hours and into the longest fifth set in Grand Slam history, you forgot about the second wife and the third mortgage and those post-Fourth of...
Our Dallas Dynasty

By Richie Whitt
Nov 10, 2008

When you think Highland Park, think wealth. And butlers. And Matthew Stafford. And, apparently, tennis. The Cowboys of the ’90s? Southlake Carroll of the ‘00s? They have nothing, and I mean nothing, on this local sports dynasty. Five state championships in six years. A record of 138-1 since ’03. 21...
Dale Hansen’s Scholar Athlete of the Week, Eat Your Heart Out

By Richie Whitt
Sep 19, 2008

A star is born. Speaking of tennis and the Davis Cup and local athletes, I almost forgot to mention Mitchell Krueger. In fact, I did forget. Until now. Who he, you ask? With any luck, and some computer click support from you, he could be the December cover boy on...
Advantage, Mrs. Modano

By Richie Whitt
Sep 18, 2008

I choose to believe, er, fantasize, that she wears this under her tennis skirt. But that's just me. So I got this friend who, like me, plays competitive tennis. (Pregnant pause while 92% of you clear the room.) Anyway, she’s playing level 3.0 women’s doubles (advanced lower level, if you...
This Just In: Dallas’ Need for Cialis to Plunge Next Month

By Richie Whitt
Sep 5, 2008

In a parallel universe, this photo is of me with some groupie chick. Big news from my wife over Labor Day: This guy has supplanted this guy atop her “list.” Alas, my rankings are unchanged. Anna Kournikova, feeble tennis resume be damned, remains the undisputed defending champion. Which is great...
There’s No Joy In Mudville

By Richie Whitt
Aug 11, 2008

Silver medals never tasted so bitter. Get those cards, flowers and strip-o-grams coming, I need a lil’ pick-me-up. Not because the Cowboys lost or the Rangers’ annual summer fade is in hyper-drive. Alas, my tennis team came this close to winning the USTA 3.5 Texas sectional championship and advancing to...
Wow-mbledon

By Richie Whitt
Jul 8, 2008

The greatest current one-on-one battle in all of sports. As a stupid guy once famously said in a super movie, “Sorry I had ta fight in da middle of ya black pantha pawwty,” but I can’t let another day pass without opining on the greatest tennis match I ever did...