Books
The Bud Collins History of Tennis: An Authoritative Encyclopedia and Record Book
by Bud Collins
Five years have passed since I last published a book. This one, just out, “The Bud Collins History of Tennis,” is long overdue – and I know you’ll love it. If you can lift it. Just kidding. But I did need 765 pages to chronicle just about everything that has happened in the game since the initial tournament, Wimbledon, 1877, up to the present.
All the greats are represented in bios, and many others who have made historic marks. Such as the Australian bloke, Viv McGrath, who introduced the two-handed backhand during the 1930s. Or Anita Lizana, slightly known Chilean who entered the U.S. Championship once, 1937 – and won it. 0r Whitney Reed, who partied his was to U.S. No. 1 in 1961.
As well as the prose are the championship rolls of all the majors – naturally you want to know whom Francoise Durr and Jean Claude Barclay beat to win the 1973 French Open mixed doubles – and records and stats galore.
People often ask me how long it took to write such a book. I reply, “Fifty years.” A bit of an exaggeration. But I have been gathering tennis info as a journalist, print and TV – scribbler and babbler – since 1955, and have poured it into this volume.
I hope you”ll dig in.
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New book by Dennis J. Phillips with foreward written by Bud.
http://www.womentennisstars.info
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New book by Richard Kent
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One of the most important figures in the history of equality and sports offers a unique look at her life and the lessons she learned about competition and success.
The Roger Federer Story: Quest for Perfection
by Rene Stauffer
The Open Book: Celebrating 40 Years of America’s Grand Slam
Pete Sampras: A Champion’s Mind
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The Roots of Tennis: Blue Bloods to Blue Collars
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Coach: 25 Writers Reflect on People Who Made a Difference
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Far Afield: A Sportswriting Odyssey
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The Match: Althea Gibson and a Portrait of a Friendship
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Tunney: Boxing’s Brainiest Champ and His Upset of the Great Jack Dempsey
July 17 2008 07:51 am
Shawn Minnier on 07 Sep 2008 at 6:46 pm #
Bud, I missed your book signing during the first week of the Open. How can I get a signed copy of the new History of Tennis book? Hope to hear from you!
Shawn
bud on 08 Sep 2008 at 2:22 pm #
Shawn, I’ll send you an e-mail with info on this. -Bud
Hugh on 11 Sep 2008 at 6:24 pm #
Bud: I’d like the info on getting a signed copy. thanks, Hugh
Antony Wall on 06 Mar 2009 at 8:40 am #
Dear Bud Collins
An overdue mail to thank you for proving hours and hours of happy delving in Total Tennis and its update The History of Tennis. Both a must buy.
I hope you will take the following comments positively as I hope to see further editions.
1) I like the big type size, the new photos,the update information. It would be nice to have colour photos again.
2) I greatly miss from Total Tennis the top 10 player tables. I hope they will be restored and updated in a new edition. Why? a) great to compare the records of: current and former greats (Evert and Wills Moody, Nadal & Borg) and contemps (Nav v Graff), b) great to see the records of lesser but well known players who have now been omitted (a Nalbandian or Davydenko say), c) these tables widen the appeal of the book – take the French who seem to generate many good players if not great – Tsonga, Gasquet, Monfils, it would be good to see them in.
3) I feel some attention is needed to the profiles so we can really have a sense of who was top:
A) Is hall of fame a good selection criteria?
B) Individuals – eg Lleyton Hewitt – surely at the end of 2007 it should have been pointed out that he had gone into a slump and the Q posed would he get out alla Agassi? It looks as if the comment he was a caretaker No 1 was proved right with the arrival of Fed! Ditto A-Rod.
C) Those head to heads against the top player of the time are crucial – we need to seen Fed v an A-Rod, Hewitt, Nadal, and so on.
D)Honourable mentions – British players – You really missed a trick by not including the Murray brothers who get massive coverage here in UK. At the end of 2007 JM had won Wimbledon mixed and Andy was on the verge of top 10 and would have been without his injury. Really astonished (purely on lack of achievement) that the Mottram family are still getting a mention. When I was a kid people still talked fondly of Roger Taylor. Finally no one calls Henman “our Tim”!! Henman and Henmania are certainly well known but strangely henmania is not mentioned.
4) Finally I have noted some corrections which I would be happy to supply as I go along if a further edition is in preparation!
Thanks again.
Antony
bud on 14 Mar 2009 at 11:32 am #
I welcome your comments, and wish we could have afforded color photos. “Henmania” should have made it, probably the Murrays, and some other items in the next edition. Thank you for your kind remarks.
Kelli Bravo on 01 Apr 2009 at 10:12 pm #
HI Bud,
Love the idea of your new book. I would also like to get two signed copies for my Dad (Paul) and husband (Bill) both avid tennis players. Would you mind letting me know how.
Have a great day and Thanks!
Kelli
Lisa DeVitto on 26 Dec 2009 at 9:08 pm #
I was frankly disappointed in the book — not enough of the early history, which Bud implies on TV that it covers!!!! Print is way too small, and it is just too dense — not really very readable. Try again for a friendlier format. Enough detail to gag anyone.