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Frank Deford's friend "the Sports Curmudgeon" reflects on some of the things that bother him about the sports world.
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When Gertrude "Gorgeous Gussie" Moran showed a bit of lace at Wimbledon in 1949, the tennis world was shocked and she became a huge star. She died last week at the age of 89. The contrast between what the tennis world though was risque in her day and what happens today is remarkable.
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At its height, American tennis consistently fielded the world's top male players. Now that American dominance is gone, so too are many of the top U.S. men's tournaments. They're moving overseas, snapped up by groups offering more lucrative payouts in a sport enjoying huge global appeal.
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As summer heads for fall: Serena Williams is poised to win again; football opens in earnest; and the real Olympic spirit is still on display. Host Scott Simon talks with NPR's Tom Goldman.
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Weekend Edition Saturday host Scott Simon catches up with Howard Bryant of ESPN.com and ESPN the Magazine about the week in sports, including the U.S. Open and tennis star Andy Roddick's retirement from the sport.
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Ashrita Furman wants to build a tennis racket the size of a bus, and show it off at the U.S. Open. It's so big, he was told it's considered a building so he would need a permit.
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Only four of the top 100 ranked tennis players in the U.S. are African-American. But groups like the Washington Tennis and Education Foundation are working to level the court, and create opportunities for kids who wouldn't otherwise have the chance to play.
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Brian Baker, 27, is a tennis player from Nashville, Tenn., who's had a Disney-like comeback season after being out of the sport for seven years with injuries. Baker started the season as 458th in the world. He's now 79th after making it to Wimbledon's fourth round. Now, Baker will be playing in his first U.S. Open since 2005.
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The U.S. Open tennis tournament starts next week and, as commentator Frank Deford points out, Serena Williams may be the best reason to watch.
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It's been a big day for Serena Williams. First, she started the day by winning her first individual Olympic gold medal. Then she won a chance for another gold in women's doubles, playing with her sister, Venus. The pair defeated the Russian team of Nadia Petrova and Maria Kirilenko.