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.