Read Cattle To Courts A History of Tennis In Texas Ken McAllister 9781937559908 Books
Download As PDF : Cattle To Courts A History of Tennis In Texas Ken McAllister 9781937559908 Books
In this comprehensive volume, anecdotes and personal observations explore how Texas became a leader of America's "Tennis Boom" through national and international events. In addition to showing how Texas communities and statewide tennis organizations contributed to the sport's growth, the book highlights the stories of American tennis' most special characters and personalities. The extremely well versed McAllister shares unique insights from his 50 years in the tennis industry.
Read Cattle To Courts A History of Tennis In Texas Ken McAllister 9781937559908 Books
"Ken McAllister’s new book, FROM CATTLE TO COURTS, is both a detailed reference book, and an extremely well written and interesting book—a hard combination to pull off. Ken McAllister spent 50 years in the tennis community in Texas, including during the 1970’s, a time when tennis became a cultural and athletic phenomenon, a time when athletes and would-be athletes wanted to play tennis, and celebrities and politicians wanted to be seen playing tennis. Ken became a celebrity tennis wrangler during that boom. What a time to be involved in the sport, when literally everyone (including this old gimp-kneed football player) bought a racket and hit the courts. 99 percent of us were not any good, but man we had fun! If tennis was big in the rest of the world, it had to be bigger than that in Texas. Ken was right in the middle of that celebration, including as one of the officials for the Bobby Riggs—Billy Jean King match in the Astrodome. But that time was only a small part of Ken’s tennis career.
Ken grew up playing competitive tennis in high school and college, and then went on to coach tennis, starting in high school and then moving on to coaching and managing the tennis centers being created in Texas. During that time, he mingled with the movers and shakers in the sport and began to be appointed to various boards and committees that were trying to manage the tennis explosion. The first half of this book details the people, activities, and deals that made tennis what it is today, what I called a reference book in that just about every individual or organization that had a part in the development is described. While it is almost an encyclopedia, it is fascinating because of the characters involved.
The second half of the book deals with the people, the tennis greats and celebrity dreamers, Ken had to wrangle in the tennis circus of that time. I was surprised to find pictures and stories of Elizabeth Taylor and Farrah Fawcett included. Why didn’t I go into tennis? My favorite celebrity story though was of when Ken played as partner to Lloyd Bridges in a match against Warren Beatty—whom Bridges really disliked. It was explained by Bridges that Ken should not only play to win, but win big, which they did. Bridges wanted to win so badly he played with two broken ribs. As an old football player, that was my kind of tennis!
If you love tennis—if you love (or hate) Texas—and if you love good books, get Ken McAllister’s CATTLE TO COURTS, A History of Tennis in Texas."
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Tags : Cattle To Courts A History of Tennis In Texas [Ken McAllister] on . <DIV>In this comprehensive volume, anecdotes and personal observations explore how Texas became a leader of America's "Tennis Boom" through national and international events. In addition to showing how Texas communities and statewide tennis organizations contributed to the sport's growth,Ken McAllister,Cattle To Courts A History of Tennis In Texas,New Chapter Press,1937559904,GENERAL,General Adult,HISTORY / United States / State Local / Southwest (AZ, NM, OK, TX),History/United States - State Local - Southwest (AZ, NM, OK, TX),Non-Fiction,SPORTS RECREATION / Tennis,Sports
Cattle To Courts A History of Tennis In Texas Ken McAllister 9781937559908 Books Reviews :
Cattle To Courts A History of Tennis In Texas Ken McAllister 9781937559908 Books Reviews
- Anyone that played tennis in Texas during the last 50 years will remember either being there or knowing about the events portrayed in the book. The book nicely captures the who, the how, and the where that has made Texas a tennis power house. Many of the people referenced are still active in the sport whether actively playing, guiding associations or clubs, or both. Great job Ken.
- Ken McAllister’s new book, FROM CATTLE TO COURTS, is both a detailed reference book, and an extremely well written and interesting book—a hard combination to pull off. Ken McAllister spent 50 years in the tennis community in Texas, including during the 1970’s, a time when tennis became a cultural and athletic phenomenon, a time when athletes and would-be athletes wanted to play tennis, and celebrities and politicians wanted to be seen playing tennis. Ken became a celebrity tennis wrangler during that boom. What a time to be involved in the sport, when literally everyone (including this old gimp-kneed football player) bought a racket and hit the courts. 99 percent of us were not any good, but man we had fun! If tennis was big in the rest of the world, it had to be bigger than that in Texas. Ken was right in the middle of that celebration, including as one of the officials for the Bobby Riggs—Billy Jean King match in the Astrodome. But that time was only a small part of Ken’s tennis career.
Ken grew up playing competitive tennis in high school and college, and then went on to coach tennis, starting in high school and then moving on to coaching and managing the tennis centers being created in Texas. During that time, he mingled with the movers and shakers in the sport and began to be appointed to various boards and committees that were trying to manage the tennis explosion. The first half of this book details the people, activities, and deals that made tennis what it is today, what I called a reference book in that just about every individual or organization that had a part in the development is described. While it is almost an encyclopedia, it is fascinating because of the characters involved.
The second half of the book deals with the people, the tennis greats and celebrity dreamers, Ken had to wrangle in the tennis circus of that time. I was surprised to find pictures and stories of Elizabeth Taylor and Farrah Fawcett included. Why didn’t I go into tennis? My favorite celebrity story though was of when Ken played as partner to Lloyd Bridges in a match against Warren Beatty—whom Bridges really disliked. It was explained by Bridges that Ken should not only play to win, but win big, which they did. Bridges wanted to win so badly he played with two broken ribs. As an old football player, that was my kind of tennis!
If you love tennis—if you love (or hate) Texas—and if you love good books, get Ken McAllister’s CATTLE TO COURTS, A History of Tennis in Texas.
