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Anthology

On By ethomasparhamIn A2. THE LITTLE GREEN BOOK OF TENNISLeave a comment
Image of all of Tom Parham's books

For anyone who is interested in my writing, here are links to free versions of all of my books. Just tap the book title to access a free PDF file on Google Drive.

Little Green Book of Tennis (3rd edition)
A new 2023 digital-only version of the Little Green Book edited to only tennis related writing, including some new chapters from the past few years. You can also download the3rd edition— a revised edition. Play is Where Life is is the first book I wrote.


Em Ole Coaches
Lessons learned from my family, friends, and colleagues over my career. This book is a personal collection of insights from some of my favorite people.


A Level of Thinking
A collection of essays on a wide variety of subjects including sports, politics, and American culture.


Helping
A collection of essays on tennis and coaching, many of which are posted here on the blog. The second half of the book chronicles the impact of international players on college tennis.


Thanksgiving
A collection of personal thoughts, stories, and pictures. Many of the essays were also posted here on my blog.


Nearly Fifty
For almost fifty years, my closest friends gathered once a year for a men’s weekend. This book collects some of my favorite stories and pictures from this tradition. If you would like a copy of this book, please email me.

A “SCORE ” Agenda Item

On By ethomasparhamIn Wilson, RaceLeave a comment

I posed this question to Chat/GPT. They cited difficulty, yet offered some “… very strong estimates.”

How many international college basketball players are on the current rosters of the final 16 men’s teams in the 2026 NCAA Division 1 tournament?

  • There are about 60 internationals on the 16 teams combined.
  • The higher their seeding the more internationals.
  • Illinois has 5-7.
  • There has been a sharp upturn over the recent years. There are currently about one thousand women and one thousand men (internationals ) on our D1 rosters.

**********************

Some personal comments from an old tennis coach/”sports fan”

  • College tennis players are better because the money has made college tennis a better option than the tradtional Challenger route.
  • College tennis has become the “minor leagues” of Pro Tennis.
  • 1970-NAIA tennis rosters changed to almost all foreign, almost overnight.
  • Now all divisions of college tennis rosters, save D111, are the same .
  • Scholarships are the only source of aid for American families.
  • Fear of lawsuits has been a major concern.
  • The age of Tennis and Basketball players is a major factor.

Cruel ? Our children ?

Recruiting gossip is no longer about “blue chip” or ” 5 Star “, 17/18 year American high schoolers. Recruiters have a bag of money to offer to “portals”. They are often 23 years old. Some have transferred 3-4 times. We are letting graduate students play. Some are “eligible” six or seven years after admission.

American Tennis families have suffered from this for years. Poor to rich.

Basketball has been a bedrock for mostly poor kids. Will international older players, often with backgrounds of professional play, join tennis in taking away our children’s opportunites ?

This has to be dealt with soon. And it affects many other sports than tennis and basketball.

DIOGENES

On By ethomasparhamIn K. PHILOSOPHYLeave a comment

AI Overview

The story of Diogenes and his cup is an anecdote about the Greek philosopher’s radical simplicity and self-sufficiency. While carrying a simple wooden bowl, he saw a boy drinking water directly from his cupped hands. Realizing the boy needed no extra tool, Diogenes threw his cup away, stating that a child had “beaten” him in living with less. This event became a symbol of the Cynic philosophy, which rejected material possessions in favor of a life lived in accordance with nature. 

CHANGE THE PITCHER

On By ethomasparhamIn Wilson, RaceLeave a comment

WDBS (What did Bob say?)

Gentlemen, he said
I don’t need your organization, I’ve shined your shoes
I’ve moved your mountains and marked your cards
But Eden is burning, either brace yourself for elimination
Or else your hearts must have the courage for the changing of the guards

**********
An’ here I sit so patiently
Waiting to find out what price
You have to pay to get out of
Going through all these things twice

**************

I wish that for just one time you could stand inside my shoes
And just for that one moment I could be you
Yes, I wish that for just one time you could stand inside my shoes
You’d know what a drag it is to see you

**********

Mama, put my guns in the ground
I can’t shoot them anymore
That long black cloud is comin’ down
I feel I’m knockin’ on heaven’s door 

**************

But to live outside the law, you must be honest

************

Lookout kid, they keep it all hid.

********************

Gates of Eden

Bob Dylan ‧ 1965


There are no kings inside the Gates of Eden



SPAM

On By ethomasparhamIn C. COLLEGE TENNIS and INSTRUCTION, D. INTERNATIONALS, E. SPORTS COMMENTARY, K. PHILOSOPHY, L. RACE, M. POLITICS, N. RELIGION, WARLeave a comment

The Full Monty–The Ides of March, 2026 )

PROLOGUE

DEAR  MR./MS. “SPAM”,

You are in business.  I am not.   Everything  I have written is free to all.

PLEASE QUIT CALLING ME.

*********************

Two Links:  1. The Barton Project ( Earlier selected articles )

https://barton.libguides.com/ld.php?content_id=79836717

2.  Subsequent  Selected Articles:

TRUMP’S SPORTS ROUND TABLE
WHY IT MATTERS
CONSCIENCE ?

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1K3qpwHvh4PtTWvhcDcCtVE2CuBBaJ8_JIWuX6fZelb0/edit?tab=t.0

SQUARE HOLE, ROUND PEG?
1963 ?
Bob Dylan – Señor (Tales of Yankee Power) Lyrics
I AM WOMAN HEAR ME ROAR…
“TRYING TO GET TO HEAVEN BEFORE THEY SHUT THE DOOR”
LET THE TRUE CHURCH ROLL ON
WILSON, NC-65 YEARS AGO.
HERE’S HOPING
“…the hour is getting late.”
SHALL NOTS
CHRIST OR “CHRISTIAN NATIONALISM”?
“RULES BE RULES”
YOU DON’T KNOW JACK SMITH
RECOMMEND OR REQUIRE ?
VIRGIN ?
JUSTIFIED
NO KINGS
” RED AND YELLOW, BLACK AND WHITE…”

https://littlegreenbookoftennis.com/2025/07/16/nexus/

TIME OUT !

WHY IT MATTERS

On By ethomasparhamIn D. INTERNATIONALS, E. SPORTS COMMENTARYLeave a comment

The comments below comes from a report on the increasing influx of international college

basketball players ;

A growing global pipeline

The international presence in NCAA basketball isn’t just a March Madness phenomenon — it’s a trend that has been steadily growing, according to NCAA data: 

  • The number of international student-athletes in Division I men’s and women’s basketball has more than doubled since the 2009-10 season, going from 668 to 1,838 in 2024-25. Men’s basketball increased from 406 to 888 in that time, while women’s basketball skyrocketed from 262 in 2009-10 to 950 in 2024-25. 
  • Europe contributes the most talent, with 879 student-athletes in Division I men’s (505) and women’s basketball (374) this season. The women’s total is up from 112 and the men’s from 179 in 2009-10. 
  • Africa has also seen a steady increase, with its representation in Division I men’s basketball growing from 69 players in 2009-10 to 174 in 2024-25, while also growing from 15 to 79 in women’s basketball during the same period. 
  • Broken down by nations and territories, Canada led total representation in Division I men’s and women’s basketball with 312 combined in 2024-25, followed by Spain (182), Australia (177), France (72) and the United Kingdom (64). 
  • On the women’s side, Spain led the way with 163 student-athletes, followed by Canada (149), Australia (113), France (36) and Sweden (35).
  • On the men’s side, Canada had the most representation with 163 student-athletes, followed by Australia (64), the United Kingdom (41), Nigeria (39) and France (36). 

Why it matters

?

Why? Because for every international that recieves the scholarship, or money, or education,etc., that bumps an American. While this affects all global sports, basketball hopefuls should be most concerning. Poor kids, black ones predominately, have used basketball as a major and rare opportunity to lift themselves. No pun intended.

For every opportunity offered abroad, we often deny one of our most needy.

While this is a “sticky wicket”, the issue should be “on the agenda” in the making

of reasonable changes demanded ( NIL/PORTAL controls ).