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Winners and Losers The Second Time Around The senior tennis tour offers players a chance to extend their relationship with the fans have often pondered the allure of Courier play against Karel Novacek, spectator sporting events involving by Bob Latham he hit a sharply angled cross-court athletes who have retired from regu - passing shot. Novacek quipped: “You lar pro leagues or tours. I am, of course, were supposed to go down the line.” Idistinguishing a senior sporting event Courier was quick to point out that Courier retorted: “I couldn’t follow from something like a fantasy camp the Outback Champions Series is “not a directions well even in high school. where you interact with your sports victory lap.” There is $150,000 in prize That’s why I had to become a tennis heroes in a non-competitive way. I’m money at each stop and a $100,000 player.” But despite the entertaining referring to paying a hard-earned spec - grand prize for the player who com - repartee from time to time, most of tator-sport dollar to go and see players piles the most points during the eight the unwritten codes of the pro tour who were once the best in the world series events. Thus, players play to are still followed: The players don’t but are now well past their prime. win. While acknowledging that the speak or make eye contact on It’s not the same as going to see an tour is designed to allow fans to changeovers and don’t intentionally aging rock band. Bruce Spring - You may not see the sustained power distract their opponent. The steen just turned 59 but has lost tennis is serious. You may not very little speed off his musical or frenetic pace of the pro tour see the sustained power or fastball. Athletes, however, and the tactics are not as varied, frenetic pace of the pro tour have a much shorter window but there is still plenty of skill on display. and the tactics are not as var - of peak performance. Many ied, but there is still plenty of sports, of course—and particu - skill on display. As Courier larly team sports—are not conducive to “extend their relationship” with tennis said to me: “We lose our feet as we get a seniors tour. For instance, a senior legends, Courier emphasizes that the older, but we don’t lose our hands.” boxing circuit—George Foreman’s brand would not have much value if While several other Grand Slam fights of the 1990s aside—would not be the tennis were not competitive. And champions have appeared on the tour— a pretty sight. Tennis and golf are the as if to prove the point, McEnroe was McEnroe, Pete Sampras and, soon, Boris most notable exceptions, each having disqualified from the Outback Champi - Becker—the goodwill, energy and talent commercially viable seniors events. ons event in Newport this year for a of Courier himself is the driving force I recently had the chance to examine familiar staple in his repertoire: code behind the tour. Courier is at different the allure of a senior tennis event by violations. McEnroe was thus able to times a promoter, showman, recruiter, attending a stop on the Outback Cham - prove Courier’s point about the players spokesman and athlete—making him pions Series, and by enjoying a fortu - playing to win and about fans getting a equal parts the P.T. Barnum, Ringmaster itous lunch with Jim Courier. Courier, chance to “extend their relationship” Ned, Lamar Hunt and Darrin Stephens once the number one tennis player in the with McEnroe (and others), while at of the Outback Champions Series. At world, is the founding partner of New the same time proving a recurring the same time, he is still Jim Courier, as York–based Inside Out Sports & Enter - point of Dr. Phil: If the relationship was he proved at a recent event by beating tainment, which owns and operates the tumultuous the first time around, it Thomas Enqvist of Sweden and taking a Outback Champions Series. The series will be the second time as well. decisive lead in the series rankings. consists of eight tournaments for former From a player’s perspective, Outback has re-upped its sponsor - highly ranked ATP players, with events Courier points out that the players are ship, and the tour is well worth a in Newport, Rhode Island; Naples, at the stages in their lives when they look—even at the risk of the revela - Florida; Surprise, Arizona; Boston; Char - can “have their cake and eat it too.” tion that time has been kinder to your lotte; Dallas; the Cayman Islands; and They can play highly competitive tennis contemporary than it has been Dubai, with hopes for further expansion. matches against competitors who are to you. Fifteen years from now, how - For many tennis fans, the Outback still fit but do so in a collaborative ever, Rafael Nadal and James Blake Champions Series provides a “sign - and congenial way, and in a way that may need to change clothing lines post,” said Courier. “It takes you back reaches out to fans. before their debut on the champioIns to a time when you and the players Consequently, there is a degree of tour lest they disprove that theory. were both younger, and looking at relaxation to the event. Players will them helps you assess how you are communicate with each other occa - Bob Latham is a partner at the Texas- now compared to them.” In other words, sionally, and with the crowd, allowing based law firm Jackson Walker, L.L.P., and if John McEnroe can still get around a their personalities to come out. For is a former chairman of USA Rugby. He tennis court, I’m not so old after all. instance, in a match that I saw can be reached at [email protected]. SPORTS TRAVEL MAGAZINE .COM DECEMBER 2008 • S PORTS TRAVEL 61.

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