Sports Commentary

Having hiked here many times, alone and with others, I was looking forward to cooling off on the trail to the summit which sits at more than 9,000 feet above sea level.

Should sporting events be open to fans? The answer depends on who you ask.

We are now in our monsoons, which means playing in soft, wet conditions. I will share some things that I think are important to playing your best during this time of year.

Over the years I’ve got to see a lot of different tennis, multi-purpose clubs, country clubs, sub-division recreational areas, college, high school and parks and recreation facilities, each one has its own challenges to be the best they can in servicing their clients.

Once thought of as a way to “expand the Suns brand in the state,” the Northern Arizona Suns fell victim to big-league decisions driven by money and a misunderstanding of community and commitment.

The fans behind home plate at Dodger Stadium were fake, and so were the cheers in the nation’s capital.

We’ve talked about “unorthodox” hiking now for a while and we will return to the topic again, soon. But you can’t always “be on,” so to speak. Intensity without an occasional break leads to weariness and loss of joy.

“We’ll never change the name. It’s that simple. NEVER—you can use caps.”

Normally at this point in the professional tennis season we’d be watching the “March to the U.S. Open going full bore, with The Canadian Open in Toronto/Montreal followed by the Washington, D.C. Citi Open, both now canceled due to the virus.

Ball marks are the little depressions, or craters, made when a golf ball descends from the sky and impacts the putting surface. Repairing those little depressions is very important. Equally important is doing it the right way.

“Ten years ago I’d have not only gotten to that shot, I’d have hit a winner past you,” I inwardly thought to myself with a pasted smile but with a real comment of just, “Nice shot.”

A blink, a chance happening, volunteer help, pats on the back, a little success, job prospects and opportunity, ignorance, roadblocks, open doors, diversifying, looking at the big picture, making decisions, trying not to be afraid, listening to your heart, giving back, family and community, continuing forward … life in a nutshell for this columnist and his journey in the tennis world.

The passage of time hasn’t diminished their pain — physical, mental, emotional. They are reminded of it with each passing day that USA Gymnastics (USAG) and its former apologists and supporters remain unpunished.

Surprise? Why would anyone be surprised when the trail they are on completely disappears? Stuff happens, especially when hiking in the Arizona wilderness. The real issue is your response to finding yourself off route, lost or in over your head.

Sixteen-year-old Coco Gauff from Delray Beach, Florida seems to be a very poised and focused person, not only as a tennis player but more lately as a Black Lives Matter impromptu speaker at a local rally in her hometown.

We are continuing our series on slow play and how to play golf in a timely manner.

For anyone anticipating the return of baseball next month, here’s a bit of advice: Don’t hold your breath. After three months of excruciating back and forth failed to result in an agreement between owners and players, MLB commissioner Rob Manfred mandated a 60-game season beginning on July 23.

It only looks as though Dustin Johnson barely has a pulse on the golf course. One moment made him a little nervous.

Americans love their college football, as evidenced by the fact so many of us can’t imagine life without it.

“If there’s such a thing as a tennis bum, I’m it,” [Whitney] Reed matter-of-factly admitted to Sports Illustrated in a characterful 1962 profile.

We are continuing our series on slow play and how to play golf in a timely manner.

It’s on! The U.S. Open is going to take place Aug. 31 through Sept. 13 in New York and with that what will the script be for what’s to take place?

It is coming down to crunch time to decide if the two last major tennis tournaments of the U.S. Open series will be held this summer, the Western and Southern Open, normally held in Cincinnati, followed by the U.S. Open one of the four major grand slam events.

Baseball fans are hoping the sport returns to the field this year, but optimism is dwindling by the day.

Hiking conditions after a devastating wildfire are unpredictable. The Goodwin Fire came through Grapevine Canyon in 2017. How is the landscape recovering? How does this recovery affect hiking there?