Sources Say 5: The Fool's Century

 

On the inside it's uglier than most can imagine.  Scandal, cover ups, hook ups, and pick-me-ups.  No telling what kinda narcotics float around, pill to pill, shot to shot, dose to dose, a pharmaceutical disaster.  Like Elvis without any music or Chuck Berry without any moves or Bruce Lee without any kicks or Speedy Gonzales without any speed.  Just dizzy, slurring pigment obsessed drunks, sources say.

What does CBS stand for anyway?  Doesn't matter now, they've become irrelevant, a bleak reminder of last century.  The fool's century.  Duped and looped.  Now we know.

We started in around the late 40's, picking fights, manipulation, sinister and crude.  Stealthy.  Spies with eyes in the skies.  Peace was never kept, it was invaded.  America was a TV show on CBS.

Dallas Open Gonzo 11: Vantaggio Day

 

Vantaggio Day at the Dallas Open began with a late morning breakfast at Cafe De Brazil.  Located across the highway from the event, its proximity and excellent breakfast offerings made it the perfect meet up place.  King The Todd, People's Duke, Keck, King James, they were all there when I arrived.  Bourbon pecan coffee, omelettes, crepes, empanadas, sweet potato fries, grilled breads, hash brown casserole, it was delicious.  Discussions of crypto markets, moon landings, portfolio theory, and spies, nothing about the Super Bowl or the Grammys or the Vanderpump Rules.

Then, we loaded up the cars, opened the sun roofs, and cruised to the streets of Highland Park to park.  Found a sweet spot on St. Johns, not too far from Beverly Drive.  It's likely the locals encouraged next year's move north to Frisco, probably bankrolled it, Jerry Jones lives around here.  Either way, the homes are incredible, the yards are brilliant, and I tried to pick up some loose litter whenever I could these past 3 years.  Trashy people suck the most, pick up your trash, fools.

Anyway, quarters Friday was a hot, melting blast.  Between Tommy Paul playing Top 10 tennis, Ben Shelton's comeback 3 setter, Giron destroying Tiafoe, and Mannarino taking care of business, we experienced the final days of the Dallas Open experience in Dallas in style.  With new agreements about future Vantaggio roles, the emergence of a Fractional CEO, and weak competition like Capelli Sports, '24 and beyond could be huge for the tennis brand enigma.  We got colors that pop, as the song goes, we got grand slams, we got wristbands, we got tennis fans, and on and on, man. Went a solid 2-2 with my quarters picks---thinking Shelton loses to Paul, and Giron loses to Mannarino in the semis, trust me, take it to the bank, Vantaggio.

Dallas Open Gonzo 10: Surrounded By Winners

 

All of them have dangerous opponents, the top 4 seeds through to the final 8, it's Friday, Quarters Day at the Dallas Open:  Paul and Koepfer, Shelton and Thompson, Tiafoe and Giron, Mannarino and Duckworth.  All the others just weren't up to it, not this week.  This week all the others lost, for various reasons, in various ways.  They'll be more losing to come, but for now, for this entire morning, we're surrounded by winners.  Then, it'll be 2 o'clock, when the losing starts again.

As a tennis observer, journalist, and fanatic, it's important to be on record, create a bit of credibility, predict.  All you tennis gamblers get ready, I'm a minor clairvoyant, take note.  Koepfer loses to Paul due to flying his backhand on big points, Thompson loses to Shelton because he can't handle the serve, Giron loses to Tiafoe in a classic 3 setter, and Mannarino loses to Duckworth in a beat down.  Take all that to the bank, trust me, I've done lots of analysis since I stupidly picked Brooksby over Opelka in the '22 Dallas Open final.

Uomosport Inc. was on the brink then, they had a winner on the horizon.  He wore their $135 shorts with gold tipped drawstrings.  Then an injury, then a this, then a that, then an 18 month doping suspension from the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA), then poof, Jensen Brooksby can't play professional tennis until January 2025.  Explains alot, Uomosport isn't even here this year, no apparel, no wristbands, no models, no nothing.  With that, take my predictions with a gulp of coffee, getting wired for the Quarters, let's do it.

Dallas Open Gonzo 9: Mindless Waveless Thoughts

 

The walk up seemed different this year at the Dallas Open.  Melancholy and nostalgic, familiar and quaint.  This neighborhood is getting back to normal soon, thanks for the hospitality.  Gone to Frisco, but not yet.  Tennys Sandgren was warming up on the Grandstand side court, he was about to play Marchenko, these veterans were playing to get into the main draw, this was serious, desperation tennis, all business, all glares, all in.

Sandgren looked more ripped than the 2018/19 version when he was at the top of his game, making noise in Grand Slams and ranked in the mid 40's.  And leaner somehow, maybe a late career 3 or 4 year run, show some rooks the way, grab a title or two, get back to top 50.  I sat courtside and watched the whole match.  Marchenko looked like an NFL player, big, broad, and strong, he belted the ball.  There were distractions of all types, Tennys noticed them, he acknowledged them, he pointed at them, he overcame them, he used them, he ate them.

Finally, over two hours later, Sandgren came away with a hard fought straight sets win.  Next for him is Alex Michelsen, a 19 year old ranked #75 in the world, an up and comer.  I'm pulling for Tennys, the buffet ain't closed yet, it's time for him to eat.  Beers are $13 this year, up from $12, the main entrance is closed, the vendors have abandoned the place, a few fewer bathrooms were brought in, the practice courts are off site, something's missing, a sparkle, a spirit, a polish, I just don't know.  Tripping Daisy sang it best, "Trip along, my mindless waveless thoughts they carry on."

Dallas Open Gonzo 8: No Dinky 250

 

Weird not having Wu in the draw.  The defending champion of the Dallas Open was not defending his title and points.  Sources indicate any returning champ stays at John Isner's house, eats John Isner's food, and drives John Isner's Cybertruck.  It made no sense, there wasn't much Wu news in the news.  Hopefully, he's fully recovered from his on court collapse this past summer.

He'll be missed, Wu was spectacular last year.  Probably the best tennis ever played in the history of the Dallas Open.  Some would argue the Isner/Opelka match in '22, which featured the longest tiebreaker in ATP history, was compelling, but it was not.  Some would say Fritz, but he seemed to use Dallas as practice, he never even made the final here.  He's out this year, went Top 10 ranking, went big time, Fritz ain't playing in no dinky 250.

Frances Tiafoe (15), Tommy Paul (16), Ben Shelton (17), Adrian Mannarino (18) are the favorites.  Eubanks, Wolf, Giron, and a few others could break through.  Gonna enjoy the final year in Dallas, on scene, on the hill, throughout, and about.  We thank the neighbors in advance, our street parking is only for a few days, our presence is temporary, we'll be on our best behavior.  Next year, it's off north to Frisco to accommodate a 500 point tournament, maybe Fritz will play.