"They're Both Outdoors"

A few weeks ago, when I was in New York, I took the Chinatown bus from New York to Boston and back again for the weekend. It was a fun adventure to be out on the East Coast traveling by myself, and along the way I met several fun characters on and off the bus.

One of those characters was a girl whose name I forget, but whose personality is unforgettable. She sat next to me on the ride back to New York, with her iPod in hand and her humming voice singing along - she was going to audition for a show. We got to chatting and she told me about how she was doing a show this summer at a theme park, something she didn't seem necessarily proud of, but deep down knew that it was a gig.

As the conversation turned to me, I told her about how I was moving to the City in September to try to make my way as a writer. I told her that my interested varied, but that I was particularly interested in the environmental movement and the professional tennis tour, which are two completely different things.

"Well," she replied. "They're both outdoors."

Yes, I thought, they are both outdoors - sometimes. Needless to say, she was being kind and trying to make a connection, something that I appreciated from her.

Those two issues - the environmental movement and tennis - are what my two most recent published writings include. My column at GreenforGood.com, "The Greener Grad" continues this week with a look at how the green movement is often seen as a competition when it shouldn't be. And, over at TENNIS.com, I wrote an article about my own school, Seattle University, going Division I and bringing back their storied tennis program.

Check both of them out when you have time, and get out and enjoy the outdoors when you get the chance! There's lot to do out there, separate from tennis and the environment, of course.

April Already?

For those of you who are checking in every now and then, I wanted to get a post up to let you know I'm still alive (incredible!) and making my way toward graduation in June. Yesterday was my first last day of school for a while... if not ever. I started spring quarter of my senior year, which has come alarmingly fast.

I've still been actively doing posts for GreenforGood.com on a variety of environmental issues. Check them out below:

"Trying times as a Greener traveler" - March 21st.

"Taking a second look at second-hand clothes" -March 25th.

I spent the last 10 days (spring break!) in New York visiting my Montana friend Matt in Manhattan. I spent my time there hanging out, taking in a few Broadway shows with Matt and putting out some feelers for a move there in the fall to try to make it as a freelance writer. I also did a little post on my adventure on the famed Chinatown bus for Matt's blog, too.

I'll be back to check in soon. How about all this good tennis we're getting in the States the last few weeks? Too bad Miss Davenport couldn't follow up her big win over Ivanovic yesterday in Miami, but it's so nice to see her back and playing competitive tennis.

Ban the Bottle

Another post over at Green for Good - this one on bottled water.

UPDATE: Looks like the City of Seattle has caught on too! Mayor Nickels is banning all bottled water purchases for city use. AWESOME!

Can't Stop Writing

So for a few of you that might be still checking in here, or have stumbled upon the blog accidently, I thought I'd share the little amount of (non-academic, of course) writing I've been doing lately.

A couple weeks ago I went to an alumni panel for communication and journalism majors at Seattle U, and quite a few interesting SU alum showed up to share their wisdom. One of them was Teresa Wippel, an upbeat lengthy woman probably in her mid-40s. She spoke about her public relations firm that focused on green issues. She also talked about her new community-based web site, Green for Good, a place for people to gather and share green ideas in an effort to live a more sustainable life.

So, being the ever-hopeful journalism student, I approached Teresa after the panel with the proposal of doing a once-a-week column on students living green in a simple (and cheap) way.

Here's the first of my weekly columns in what we're calling the "Greener Grad." Enjoy!

A Long Time Coming

For the past three months, I've battled this blog on a daily basis. We've become bickering siblings; me wanting to play with others, Tennis Chatter wanting me all to herself.

I love the game of tennis. In many ways, it helped me along my path of adolescence, and has been an integral part of my developing writing career.

As I begin to make my final strides toward graduating from college, however, it's time for me to focus on things that have more of a direct impact on who I am. I've kept this blog going because of that love, but also because I feel a pressure to do things for the unknown future, for the potential job interview, for the chance at one-upping my peers.

I want to work for a lot of things in this life, and tennis is one of them. But right now I'm at such a crossroads - both personally and professionally - that I'm unsure of where tennis will come in, and what role it will play in my life.

I hate to add my blog to the thousands that have gone to the wayside in the recent past. I, however, feel as though I will return here sometime in the future to make some sort of change or perhaps to re-capture my love for this game in a whole new way.

Thank you to everyone who has read, commented, bashed or browsed in the last year; you're all much appreciated.

Cheers,
Nick

Tennis Chatter

Well, this post has been a long time coming... as has the retirement of Monica Seles.

The delay of my post is many tiered: the retreat I work on for Campus Ministry happened this last weekend (it was a big success) while I had three midterms in the last eight days not to mention helping Conscious Choice (where I'm interning) getting ready to go to print for their March issue.

Seles' delay, however, has been something she relied on for much of her career - an intangible. She hoped for so long that her foot would heal and a comeback might spark something deep down inside of her tennis soul that sprung her tennis body into action. But no such luck would come upon Seles, who won nine grand slam titles.

She'll be sorely missed. But, tennis fans, Monica's foot might not be good enough for the pro tour, but she'll be gracing a competitive surface with her shoes anyway... her dancing shoes, that is.

Below, my favorite Monica match of the thousands: a thrilling victory over Venus Williams at the 2002 Australian Open. Pay attention to the clip around 6:45, where she and Venus are wrapped in a heavy exchange that ends up with Monica scrambling and Venus netting a forehand. At that point, the camera pans to the crowd where two women are up on their feet, pumping their fists, engulfed in Seles' emotion.

That moment shows what Monica meant to fans, and she'll surely be missed on the tour.



Meanwhile, Kei Nishikori spoiled an all-American final at Delray Beach last weekend by beating Sam Querrey in the semifinals. If that wasn't shocking enough, the 18-year-old Japanese player went on to triumph over James Blake in three sets in the finals.

What's up with these young guys making noise early in the year? Are they random flashes of brilliance... or are they a sign of more of what's to come?

In case you missed the action at Delray, Erwin over at Tennis Served Fresh has posted some really cool pictures of the awesome artwork done on center court.

Erwin's post got me thinking about how tennis can start branching out and being a more inclusive sport. Why not recruit more artists to do the backdrop on the walls, or designs on the court? Music has become a staple at the Australian Open, and perhaps other forms of art at tournaments can start becoming more of a common sight.

There's been quite a lot of chatter about Pete Sampras returning to the tennis tour. My gut feeling is that it wouldn't happen... but the way he played against Tommy Haas in their exhibition, he might as well. Right?

MIA

I've been totes MIA lately (totally missing in action, if you were wondering).

Midterms have overtaken my life (one down, two to go) as has Search, the retreat that I help plan on campus. The retreat itself this weekend, which is both scary and exciting in one! We have lots to do, but I know it'll all get done.

If anyone's feeling a bit overwhelmed (other than me) it's Jo-Wilfried Tsonga. The Aussie open runner-up crashed out of Marsielle in the first round, losing to wildcard Mario Ancic in straights.

That's no follow-up to his slam breakthrough. Hopefully I won't have such a dip from midterm number one to two and three...

Where Are They Now: TENNIS.com Style

Love this. TENNIS.com has updated you on all the players you were wondering about on the men's side of the game.

Thursday they're running on women's special. Love, love, love it!

Now... I have a midterm to take :)

Tennis Chatter: End of the Weekend

It's always tough to watch the weekend wrap-up like it was never here. I even have three-day weekends this quarter, but the days still fly by like they weren't even there in the first place.

I haven't felt this removed from the tennis scene in a long while, but alas, tennis was still being played all around the world as Davis Cup completed round one and the women were at two separate sights for smaller tourneys.

I'm still a little baffled by the in-and-out (and out-and-in) performance of Novak Djokovic this weekend. He doesn't play Friday, but then appears Saturday on the doubles court and gets a two-set-to-one lead (including 3-0 in the third!) over Nicolay Davydenko only to pull out again? Aye dios mio! Make up your mind, Djoko! I just feel like he showed so much guts and guile in Melbourne... and then, this?

If you haven't discovered Nole's web site yet, it's a treat.

The Princess of Boring won at Paris this weekend, beating up-and-comer Agnes Szavay in the finals. I would've really loved to have seen Szavay win this one, but we certainly can continue to expect great things from the Austrian. I think she might be a top ten player by the end of the year, especially if she continues to learn from experiences like this one. (If you're wondering who the Queen of Boring is, click here. But really, did you not know?)

The American men made quick work of the Austrians and their horrific clay court this weekend. Andy Roddick, James Blake and the Bryan brothers beat Austria - bad bounces and all - in three matches. Roddick struggled the most, needing five sets to win the opening rubber against Jurgen Melzer.

On the Baseline news discusses the popularity of tennis and how it can be improved while Erwin over at TSF gives us a run-down of Davis Cup attire, including the Frenchmen, who the U.S. takes on in North Carolina in April.

The Caucus Process

I've been rather busy the last few days with all the different things that make up my life. Today was rather a big day here in the dreary state of Washington, as Washingtonians went to their caucuses to choose the state's delegates for the Democratic presidential race.

I was rather inspired to caucus today and participate in what many are calling one of the most pivotal elections of our time. What fun to see a woman and a man of color running head-to-head in such a historic race. So as I arrived at my polling place I expected to find rows of friendly caucus organizers lining the halls with stickers and clipboards and making check marks as they pointed people to their rooms and we all went on our marry-caucus way.

Instead, T.T. Minor elementary was snarled at the main entrance, where a crowd of people from all walks of life were fighting just to get out of the rain, much less participate in a presidential election. But the craziness at the doorway was just the beginning of what would turn out to be a rather disappointing afternoon of frustrated caucusers, unorganized (and far too many) caucus organizers and people who really wanted to get involved in their community - and their country - and make a difference but were at the wrong caucus location, couldn't find their precinct room, or were just plain fed up with the whole process itself.

Leaving the caucus, I felt rather discouraged. Sure, I had gone in, helped in any way I could, written down my general information and who I preferred for the race and then scooted away; all done. Processes - whether it's to elect a candidate, an official, or even just how to make a morning cup of coffee (which I do for a living) - are all different, and everyone feels as though their way is best, but that's not always the case. I think you can chalk the caucus process (in my opinion) up in the "bad process" column... there's just got to be a better way.

When I left the caucus, I rode the bus down to campus and got to thinking about how many issues swirl around this globe every day. Clinton, Obama and all the other candidates have had to speak to these issues day in and day out of the campaign, and eventually one of them will take office in hopes of making this world a better place.

That's something I want to achieve in my life: making the world a better place. I often wonder what role tennis has to do with that. I am passionate about the game of tennis, and about my writing and what impact they both have on society. Is tennis just a sport for the rich and powerful? Has professional tennis warped into a game of advertising moguls and diva millionaires?

In a lot of ways I think that yes, it has. But at the same time, I think the complete opposite. I look at the elite of the game and see many socially-aware players who do their part to be diplomats and agents of social change, but meanwhile take million-dollar contracts with corporations and play a wasteful and often times frivolous.

As I move toward college graduation I am starting to analyze the 'big picture' more often. Perhaps I should give up on my dream of sitting court-side at Wimbledon documenting the final and instead find a path of change and good that might do what these candidates are trying to do.

For now, I'll take solace in being a student... four more months of this dream world!