For the Tennis folks out there (Davis Cup 1st Round)

[beachbumdawg]

against Switzerland will be held in Birmingham, AL (March 2009)

</a><a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.usta.com/sitecore/content/USTA/Global/Pro_Tennis/Davis_Cup/PressRelease/USTA_selects_Birmingham_for_2009_Davis_Cup_first_round.aspx">http://www.usta.com/sitec...avis_Cup_first_round.aspx

 

[DAWGS1.sixpack]

nm

 

[tennisdawg.sixpack]

Federer will be there because it is US vs. Switzerland. I cannot stand rodDick, so I will be rooting against my own country when he plays federer... Should be an awesome environment with 17,000 seats (if they sell them)....

 

[Irondawg]

Pretty sweet - Wawrinka should be there too so should be entertaining. I might have to make that - almost too close not to go.

If you guys have never been to Memphis, you're missing out as well

 

[patdog]

That will be an amazing match. 4 of the top 13 singles players in the world will be there (#2 Federer & #13 Wawrinka for Switzerland and #8 Roddick and #10 Blake for the US) as well as the #1 doubles team (the Bryan brothers for the US) and the Olympic gold medal doubles team (Federer & Wawrinka for Switzerland). This match should be a finals match instead of a 1st round match. Unfortunately, it's at a terrible time of year for me work-wise. 17 it! I'll be there anyway. If my boss doesn't like it, then 17 him.</p>

 

[patdog]

that weekend. This ain't a ******* singles match, it's a 17-ing Davis Cup tie! Like Roddick or not, the fact is he's always been there for the US in Davis Cup, which is a shitload more than you could ever say about ******** like Jimmy Conners, Pete Sampras, or Andre Agassi (and I use the term ******** only in regards to Davis Cup as 2 of those 3 are 2 of my favorite players ever).

 

[lawdawg02]

take it from someone who has seen federer v roddick before - go watch the bryan brothers play doubles. especially since they'll be playing federer and wawrinka. federer and roddick will (hopefully) be a good match, but doubles is SO much fun to watch, and the bryan brothers do a great job of playing to the fans.

if you've never seen tennis, davis cup is the place to start. there is a group of US fans called "the netheads", who dress up and lead cheers. i went to the davis cup in paris a few years ago, and their environment was amazing - cheering and yelling and even a guy playing a drum. i know we won't come close to that kind of environment, but hopefully we'll come close.

 

[lawdawg02]

i NEVER cheer for roddick. and federer is my favorite player. but in the davis cup, i'll be pulling for roddick. it's just different when you're playing for your country. especially knowing, like you said, how roddick has always made the davis cup a priority.

</p>

 

[Mr Meoff]

an exhibition match, but still. Also - Blake, Fish, Haas, Hewitt, Querry, among others. Great lineup this year.

And the Racquet Club is a relatively small venue, so you are very close to the players. Yes, the women too.

And here's a bonus re-post of my favorite tennis-related picture:

 

[Mr Meoff]

let's touch base before y'all buy tickets -- maybe we can be over there on the same days, so we can go out after the tourney. I know some people in B'ham we can party with.

By the way, Lawdawg, the Bryan brothers' dad (and coach) had my kids in a clinic... he's a little nuts, but an outstanding coach. You can tell where the boys get their INTENSITY.

 

[lawdawg02]

We actually gave him the mic in houston and had him do some promo stuff for our events in houston. I got to watch him put the bryans through a few practices, and he is definitely intense! Great coach, and good guy. If I can go, I'm definitely in for a few drinks. Or lots of drinks.

 

[patdog]

I'll be in touch with you after New Year's and we'll see who all is in so we can buy tickets the day they go on sale.</p>