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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.

PRO VS CON

On By ethomasparhamIn M. POLITICSLeave a comment

Back when people could talk to each other, I heard this rationale frequently : ” I voted for Trump because he is a business man!”

Now, summer 2026, that has mitigated to: ” I don’t like some of his behavior, but he has done a lot of good things!”

Here is a new game to break up a marriage, or family, or friendship, etc:

Flip a coin, winner chooses first or second go.

(Pro wins, selects first )

Round 1–PRO names a GOOD thing he has done. CON names a bad thing he has done.

Round 2 and thereafter who goes first alternates. Con first in round 2.

Winner is player who can keep naming new support for PRO or CON

Dylan continued

On By ethomasparhamIn Wilson, RaceLeave a comment

Last night Bob Dylan played in Richmond, Va. July 28 he is to be in Raleigh, NC, July 29, Wilmington, N.C.– as he finishes another tour segment. In October he starts the 31 site next tour. Shows in 11 European nations. Goggle Bob Dylan.com for details, tour stops, set lists.

In February 2018 I spoke at Barton College. On Dylan . And how this small college and a special teacher fit in with my appreciation of the Artist.

Unfortunately two vital video supports failed. One was Stellenbosch University (South Africa ) on graduation day, scored by Dylan music. The other video was MY BACK PAGES, done as a tribute to Bob and including George Harrison, Eric Clapton, Tom Petty, Neil Young and Dylan.

Stellenbosch

My Back Pages:

All this now is on You tube, Google and such. Links below I hope work this time.

Today, almost 10 years later. I marvel that this man is touring at this level.

Today I found this video about Bobfest, or the tribute mentioned.

Book Review

On By ethomasparhamIn K. PHILOSOPHY, M. POLITICSLeave a comment

 The GreatestSentence Ever Written

Walter Isaacson

The Greatest Sentence Ever Written

Walter Isaacson

Premise

“The author argues that these early edits reveal the Founders balancing the roles of reason and faith in defining American rights. The final sentence declares that all men are created equal and possess unalienable rights to Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness. Isaacson presents this sentence as one of the defining statements of the American founding.”

SHELBY FOOTE

On By ethomasparhamIn Wilson, RaceLeave a comment

SHELBY FOOTE  

When Jimmy Carter was elected, my Mother rationalized “…Well – at least we now have one who doesn’t have an accent.”

Recently I have spent some time watching interviews with the late Shelby Foote.  I particularly liked the graduation ( “commencement”) address.   Shelby’s voice MADE the Burns’ PBS series on the Civil War. 

All Southern Americans wrestle with the race issue.  Mr. Foote is a peer of great delta writers.  All have dealt with the past. Or tried to.  

The link below, beginning at about minute twelve, caught my attention.   The moderator, who is Black,  solicits  Mr. Foote’s comments on the issue.   

Almost with deep anguish Shelby started with “…it is difficult to talk about”, or a similar “…you had to know what it was like back then.”

As if talking to himself. he tried to defend his beloved South while unable to justify the horrors. 

And admits the history will never justified: 

Zverev and Sablenka

On By ethomasparhamIn Wilson, RaceLeave a comment

“… a tennis player is as strong or as weak as their weakest link, and the weakest link in tennis is the second serve.”

Wlmbledon Men’s Singles observation :

I don’t believe Shasha Zverev made many crucial double faults yesterday. Even elite players have problems. A short while back , two of the world’s best players ( Zverev and Sabalenka ) had big time second serve issues. Both seem to have corrected this significant flaw.

I’d like to know how their coaches helped them do it.

Pressure points in various sports must be dealt with. “Gimme” short putts in golf. Free throws in basketball ?

I think Dave Pelz had the clue. In dealing with golf’s “short game”. Pelz urged controlling pressure, or “nerves”, by

length of stroke adminstered with “dead hands”. (See THE SHORT GAME BIBLE ). No yips or jerks (Shaq’s free throws ?) Closers in baseball? Second serves ?

Motor memory through practice. Carnegie Hall ?—See THE TALENT CODE . Myelin , my Boy.

Discover what your second serve FEELS like. Practice it often. Trust it.

COLLEGE TO PRO?

On By ethomasparhamIn C. COLLEGE TENNIS and INSTRUCTION, D. INTERNATIONALS, E. SPORTS COMMENTARYLeave a comment

As the world turns !

(From—ESPN Wimbledon broadcast of the Ben Shelton–Otto Virtanen first-round match yesterday, the commentators had a brief discussion about the changing path from college tennis to the ATP Tour.

The main points they made were:

  • College tennis is no longer viewed as a detour from professional tennis. The commentators noted that more elite players are spending one or more years in college before turning pro because the level of competition is so high.
  • Ben Shelton was used as the prime example. They pointed out that Shelton played at the University of Florida under his father, Bryan Shelton, won the NCAA singles championship, and then made an exceptionally rapid transition to the ATP Tour.
  • They mentioned that NIL opportunities have changed the equation for top American juniors. Players can now earn meaningful income while competing in college, making it less financially urgent to leave school immediately for the lower levels of professional tennis.
  • The discussion also touched on how college players now receive:
    • world-class coaching,
    • strength and conditioning,
    • sports science,
    • and frequent competition against future professionals,
      making college a stronger developmental pathway than it was a decade ago.
  • They contrasted today’s environment with previous generations, when the expectation for top juniors was often to turn professional immediately if they had the opportunity.

This wasn’t presented as a formal statistic but rather as commentary on how the landscape has changed, with Shelton serving as an example of a player who successfully used college tennis as a springboard to the top of the professional game.

SAINT AUGUSTINE

On By ethomasparhamIn E. SPORTS COMMENTARYLeave a comment

From today’s THE ATHLETIC (by Austin Meek), a comment on the current state of college athletics:

” By now, it should be obvious that “equitable reform” and “competitive advantage” don’t fit neatly in the same box. In trying to have it both ways, leaders in college sports sound a lot like St. Augustine: God, grant me chastity, but just not yet.”