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.
Is it possible to house big time college athletics (with market values), philosophically within the purview of American higher education? Today’s article by George Will (College basketball season begins under odiferous clouds) includes a quote from Michael Oakeshott : ” To try to do something which is inherently impossible is always a corrupting enterprise.”
Total Estimated Economic Value of IU’s National Football Season (2025–26).
Category
Estimated Value (USD)
Direct Football Program Revenue (Incremental)
$10 M – $20 M
Baseline Annual Football Revenue
$60 M (ongoing)
Local Economic Impact (Tourism, Lodging, Spending)
$60 M – $100 M+
Media & Brand Value (Exposure)
$20 M – $50 M+
Total Estimated Economic Value
≈ $150 M – $230 M+
Bottom Line: Indiana University’s historic national championship season likely generated at least in the low hundreds of millions of dollars in combined direct revenue, local economic activity, and media/brand value. The total could exceed $200 M when counting the broader impact on the university, Bloomington economy, and future revenue streams.
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Perpetually in the transfer portal? Meet The Athletic’s All-Frequent Flyer Team
Two nights ago I watched Elon men’s play Campbel University. Campbell’s 14 player roster featured six “graduate students” and six international players.
My guess is that the average age of IMPACT players is now 23-25 years of age.
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Once I questioned my own persistence to a respected professional. His adamant response was “… worth the effort? You’re damn right it is worth it. It’s our children. Child advocacy !”
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The KICKER–The portal and likeness monies will make very lucrative possibilities for the best borderline international players. True too of the very top Americans. But only a few. Already the first year rumor mill is adrift with wildly questionable numbers and propositions being floated.
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Pick a school, google men’s tennis . Tag the roster and see for yourself. Just recently I researched the total rosters of Division 11’s top six men’s teams. Of 63 players on the combined rosters, 62 were international.
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The just released survey by the Elon Poll requested solutions to college athletics problems. Between the Portal and Likeness changes, a Rubicon moment, Teaming with the NCAA, they listed ten pages of questions and suggestions to summarize how to reign in this “conundrum”.
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Another Reality
“ For every Serena or Naomi, there are thousands of families who went all in, only to come up empty-handed. It’s a system built on dreams, but powered by delusion.
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If the gamblers continue at the current rate they will create pain. If, as suggested , the Government engineers the future, grab your ankles .
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Okay, but how to plan, pay , personnel ?
It is pretty obvious some fundamental changes occurred in the 2025 FINAL FOUR college basketball tournament : No Cinderella, all four top seeds make it. Best bet is a large state University that can pay em, a seasoned and proven coach, some internationals to augment big, fast dudes. No need to recruit high school aspirants other than the rare Cooper. 18 years old—need not apply. Guards must be able to palm the ball. Players understand the coach is willing to give up my life for the school.
Athletic Directors must realize “HAVE GUN, WILL TRAVEL” rule will cause all kinds of ill will and bad behavior, for appoval or to sort out. And quickly a youngster with a hand full of cash will find mischief. “”They gonna wreck some of them cars.”
Plenty of questions. Here are a few for the School Presidents, Boards of Trustees, State Legislatures.
Do we give up academic freedom for federal money ? Sure ? Your soul could cost a billion bucks at some major institutions. Vote is due for all—soon.
Big time requests for a General Manager to pay the players–salary a million plus. And payroll for players (no salary cap ) and no telling how much.
A basketball budget that matches the cost of a needed new library? How big is my donor base? Do we
even consider faculty salaries? The faculty will.
Gamblers salivate. Parents pay. Community Colleges grow.
When we graduated from college my roommate and I were the last to vacate the dorm. He then rode off. Alone–I gazed over the campus and wondered, “…What do I do now?” I am always reminded of that sinking feeling , when watching the faces of NCAA basketball players the moment their team is through.
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College athletics has lasted through 30 plus US presidents. And hopefully many more.
Evolution doesn’t go backwards. What is assured is there will always be a pressing issue to solve.
Come you masters of war You that build the big guns You that build the death planes You that build all the bombs You that hide behind walls You that hide behind desks I just want you to know I can see through your masks
You that never done nothin’ But build to destroy You play with my world Like it’s your little toy You put a gun in my hand And you hide from my eyes And you turn and run farther When the fast bullets fly
Like Judas of old You lie and deceive A world war can be won You want me to believe But I see through your eyes And I see through your brain Like I see through the water That runs down my drain
You fasten all the triggers For the others to fire Then you sit back and watch When the death count gets higher You hide in your mansion While the young people’s blood Flows out of their bodies And is buried in the mud
You’ve thrown the worst fear That can ever be hurled Fear to bring children Into the world For threatening my baby Unborn and unnamed You ain’t worth the blood That runs in your veins
How much do I know To talk out of turn You might say that I’m young You might say I’m unlearned But there’s one thing I know Though I’m younger than you That even Jesus would never Forgive what you do
Let me ask you one question Is your money that good? Will it buy you forgiveness Do you think that it could? I think you will find When your death takes its toll All the money you made Will never buy back your soul
And I hope that you die And your death will come soon I’ll follow your casket By the pale afternoon And I’ll watch while you’re lowered Down to your deathbed And I’ll stand over your grave ‘Til I’m sure that you’re dead.
Striking a school full of children is sure to be recorded as one of the most devastating single military errors in recent decades. Iranian officials have said the death toll was at least 175 people, most of them children.
Señor, señor, can you tell me where we’re headin’ Lincoln County Road or Armageddon? Seem like I been down this way before Is there any truth in that, señor?
“Son, this ain’t a dream no more, it’s the real thing”
Señor, señor, let’s overturn these tables Disconnect these cables This place don’t make sense to me no more Can you tell me what we’re waiting for, señor?
World Cup soccer competition began in 1930. The United States men have never won it. Soccer is more widely played world-wide than any sport. Title IX was implemented in 1970. The World Cup for women began in 1991. Our women have won twice. No other country has a “Title IX”. Sports and sociology go hand in hand. *
All of the Women’s World Cup Soccer winners were college players.
Twenty three of the 2026 USA Women’s Hockey gold metal Olympics winners were college players.
Walking may be America’s go-to activity, but several studies have highlighted the benefits of tennis for longevity.
One study from Denmark found that tennis players lived almost 10 years longer than their sedentary peers — and longer than soccer players, swimmers and the other recreational athletes included in the analysis. Other research from Britain and the United States followed people for about a decade and found that playing racket sports was linked to a lower risk of death during the follow-up period than any other sport or form of exercise studied.
These NC colleges are among the most beautiful in the US. See how they ranked.
U.S. News staffers considered architecture, landscaping, and setting in their decisions.
February 19, 2026 9:08 AM
For U.S. News and World Report, the answer is yes. It released its list of the 30 most beautiful campuses across the country, and North Carolina represents, with not one but two schools. Those two campuses are less than 40 miles away from one another — and each have around 6,000 to 6,500 undergrads.
Elon University in Alamance County is at No. 26 on the U.S. News list. They cite the campus waterworks as chief among their considerations. Here’s what they said:
“Fountains, manmade lakes and its own forest contribute to the beauty of Elon University‘s 700-acre main campus, which is a designated botanical garden and accredited arboretum,” Claybourn and Jones write.
“A three-level fountain with a waterfall accents the Numen Lumen-themed, paved-brick Wallace L. Chandler Plaza, which was designed to reflect the university’s mission to inspire intellectual and spiritual illumination.
“Trees line walks and trails, providing bursts of color each spring and autumn, and numerous oak trees — Elon means ‘oak’ in Hebrew — lend beauty and shade. They’re among nearly 200 species of trees on campus. Curated plant collections beautify modern academic buildings and Georgian-inspired, red-brick residence halls. Learning is often taken beyond the walls to welcoming outdoor classrooms and study spaces. New students are given an acorn and graduates receive an oak sapling to symbolize their growth.”
The Little Green Book of Tennis 