The Courts of Babylon Dispatches from the Golden Age of Tennis (Audible Audio Edition) Peter Bodo Welland Scripps Audible Studios Books
Download As PDF : The Courts of Babylon Dispatches from the Golden Age of Tennis (Audible Audio Edition) Peter Bodo Welland Scripps Audible Studios Books
No sport has gone through the seismic changes that rocked tennis when the game, long a holdout against professionalism and creeping commercialism, abandoned its roots as a genteel, amateurs-only enterprise and became a pro sport, vying for the heart of the public with rivals like soccer, NFL football, or NBA basketball. Peter Bodo, who has covered tennis since the dawn of this "Open" era as the chief writer for Tennis magazine, was there to witness this transition and what it promised, what it delivered. He has covered the game on every continent since the early 1970s. The Courts of Babylon is more than a collection of essays, most of them growing out of a deep familiarity and, often, relationship with subjects that include Bjorn Borg, Chris Evert, John McEnroe, Evonne Goolangong, Jimmy Connors, Tracy Austin, Ivan Lendl, and Martina Navratilova. It is also a commentary on what was lost and what was gained by the transition to professionalism, and how the new, "Open" era delivered - or failed to make good - on the promise that professionalism would make tennis a more inclusive, egalitarian, accessible game. Relying heavily on formal, in-depth interviews conducted over two decades and his status as an "insider" in an insular game, Bodo's book is both a meditation and exposé, a polemic and a tribute to the players who dragged tennis, often kicking and screaming, to the forefront of the public's imagination - even when those players got it all too fast and too young.
Bodo delves into the darkest and most controversial areas of the game, chroniciling the follies of overzealous parents and pampered athletes. He fearlessly wades into sensitive issues stemming from sex and gender, politics and commercialism. He celebrates the game while holding it to task, all the while acknowledging the reality of the demands and distortions that come with a way of life that is both difficult but glamorous, and eagerly embraced by athletes who, in some cases, are no older than 14.
The Courts of Babylon Dispatches from the Golden Age of Tennis (Audible Audio Edition) Peter Bodo Welland Scripps Audible Studios Books
This is the best book on this subject. The depth of the sociological analysis of the Open era is unprecedented. The strength of this book is due to Bodo's back and forth dual approach. In one chapter, he will paint a broad and often scathing analytical brush on one aspect of the Open era. He may even focus on the change in character of one Gran Slam tournament (Wimbledon, U.S. Open). But, the very next chapter he will likely focus on one single star and essentially write a biography about them based on his multitude of interviews he had with most of them.Prior to the Open era, Bodo explains how tennis stood for sportsmanship, ethics, and educated well-rounded personalities catering to a sophisticated public. As a case in point, he mentions the many members of the Australian dynasty in the 50s, 60s, and early 70s who were all models of sportsmanship, and humility. They also did well in their tennis after life. These included legendary names like Laver, Rosewall, Emerson, and Newcomb among many others. On the American side, you had a series of college-educated players with mature personalities, including Dennis Ralston, Arthur Ashe, Charlie Pasarell, Stan Smith, and Bob Lutz. Some of them crossed over the Open era. But, they came from an old guard when tennis and its stars stood for something different than after the Open era.
The Open era officially started in 1968. But, per Bodo it kicked into gear in 1976 with the advent of Bjorn Borg, and Connors. All of a sudden, the game became corrupted by relentless commercialization. The money got so huge that it killed sportsmanship, humility, education, and well roundedness. The college game disappeared. If you are good enough for the pros at 18, forget college. All of a sudden tennis is manufactured as a sensational show that is becoming more like pro mud wrestling than gentlemanly tennis. The stars have become self-adulating, spoiled, uneducated, neurotic, unbalanced millionaire teenagers who will do anything to win a match. Their conduct is symmetrically opposite to the Australian heroes of yesteryears (Laver, Newcomb, etc...). But, the new stars are considered "colorful" and good for Nielsen ratings. The better-adjusted old guard sportsmanship is considered dull and unmarketable. Pete Sampras is a case in point. He was one of the greatest players of all times. He was also among the very few and ultimate sportsman in his era. But, instead of being adulated and emulated he was criticized by the public and ignored by the sponsors as being too dull.
What is really interesting about the mini biographies Bodo writes about the super stars is how unexpected they are. Often, the villains come across so much better once you get to know them better. Connors, Lendl, McEnroe, and Seles all come across as much more balanced, and more interesting than you would expect. They seem much more likeable than their on court persona. Some of their rivalries also make for a fascinating read. On the other hand, everyone's good guy Borg is a pathological Greek tragedy. Of course Borg was an incredible sportsman much like the Australians were. But, he was a monolithic truly dysfunctional character who could not see his place anywhere in the world outside of being number one. Out of all former champions, retirement has been most cruel to Borg because he had nothing to fall back on. He had no side interest, and no life to speak off outside tennis. He made an embarrassing attempt to return to tennis playing with wood racquets in an era of carbon graphite and Teflon. He failed miserably loosing to journeymen.
Bodo's book stops in the early 90s. He acknowledges at the end of the book that the Open era seemed to have turned the corner with a more sportsmanlike young emerging generation of American champions (Chang, Courier, Agassi, and Sampras). The great generation of emerging champions Bodo mentioned all have retired (except for Agassi, and as of this writing he may be months from doing so). They have been replaced by a group of interesting foreigners who may prove ultimately better for the game as the talent is more diversified.
Bodo's book even outclasses a series of excellent books on the same subject, including: "Bad News for McEnroe" by Bill Scanlon, and "Tennis Confidential" by Paul Fein. "You Can't Be Serious" by John McEnroe is in a lesser league because as one can expect it is so much more self-centered than the others. Yet, it is still an excellent and very entertaining book. This tells you how much I have appreciated all these books, and Bodo's above all.
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The Courts of Babylon Dispatches from the Golden Age of Tennis (Audible Audio Edition) Peter Bodo Welland Scripps Audible Studios Books Reviews
This book started out a little slow.. But, it picks up pretty quick. It has some pretty interesting story's about past champions and players such as Connor's, Ash, Everet, Navratalova, MacEnroe, and many more. The behind the curtain stories about the tour development, and player management are particularly interesting. If you like tennis history from the 60's-90's, this is a good read.
Bodo wrote this book a long time ago which I missed during the purchase decision. So, no contemporary players are mentioned. However, paired with Jimmy Connors new book, it provides a great perspective contrast to the way Connors describes the same time period.
This book has a lot on keen insights. You just have to be patient or just skip over some sections that go off on tangents such as discussing people who where peripherally related to the history of the sport. Yes, it is dated because, having read about half the book, there's no mention of Federer or Murray. There is an explanation of why Britain has trouble producing top tennis players.
This book is like re-living the 1980's end of the amateur & beginning of the professional tennis eras in technicolor, the heroes, the villains and everyday life. Not a bit dated. Especially interesting is the saga of the struggle of players & officials to move tennis from a fusty amateur sport to a professional sport & entertainment vehicle. Very balanced & perceptive views of key players & background figures. I wish the author would write an update!
I grew up in days when Peter Body's work flowed off the pages of Tennis magazine. His profiles then were insightful and unputdownable. He clearly had much more in reserve. An inside peek into the lives of childhood heroes like Ivan Lendl, Martina Navratilova and Mats Islander is the stuff of ecstasy. I hope the subsequent generations have chronicler even half as talented.
This was a very good book. I was a big fan of this era in tennis.
Bodo gives some real inside the lines and the locker room stories in this
book. I was pleasantly surprised. I like to read before bed for about 30 minutes,
and this book was perfect. Would be a good book for a plane ride if you are
interested in the material.
It is hard to remember just what a freak show professional tennis was in the 1970's and into the 80's. The original bad boy of tennis - Ilie Nastase would spit at his opponents. A former man wanted to play as a woman. Jimmy Conners firing tennis balls next to lines people he disagreed with.
And this book documents it all - all the major players and many of the ones who had their moment in the sun and slipped away into relative obscurity. The train wreck that Martina Navratilova put herself through with all her different partners. The real humanity beneath the Ice Queen media image of Chris Evert. The money train that Bjorn Borg simply walked away from after finally losing Wimbledon.
I certainly enjoyed going back over so much of this history that has faded into the mists of time as today's tennis tour presents it's very professional and controlled stars today.
This is the best book on this subject. The depth of the sociological analysis of the Open era is unprecedented. The strength of this book is due to Bodo's back and forth dual approach. In one chapter, he will paint a broad and often scathing analytical brush on one aspect of the Open era. He may even focus on the change in character of one Gran Slam tournament (Wimbledon, U.S. Open). But, the very next chapter he will likely focus on one single star and essentially write a biography about them based on his multitude of interviews he had with most of them.
Prior to the Open era, Bodo explains how tennis stood for sportsmanship, ethics, and educated well-rounded personalities catering to a sophisticated public. As a case in point, he mentions the many members of the Australian dynasty in the 50s, 60s, and early 70s who were all models of sportsmanship, and humility. They also did well in their tennis after life. These included legendary names like Laver, Rosewall, Emerson, and Newcomb among many others. On the American side, you had a series of college-educated players with mature personalities, including Dennis Ralston, Arthur Ashe, Charlie Pasarell, Stan Smith, and Bob Lutz. Some of them crossed over the Open era. But, they came from an old guard when tennis and its stars stood for something different than after the Open era.
The Open era officially started in 1968. But, per Bodo it kicked into gear in 1976 with the advent of Bjorn Borg, and Connors. All of a sudden, the game became corrupted by relentless commercialization. The money got so huge that it killed sportsmanship, humility, education, and well roundedness. The college game disappeared. If you are good enough for the pros at 18, forget college. All of a sudden tennis is manufactured as a sensational show that is becoming more like pro mud wrestling than gentlemanly tennis. The stars have become self-adulating, spoiled, uneducated, neurotic, unbalanced millionaire teenagers who will do anything to win a match. Their conduct is symmetrically opposite to the Australian heroes of yesteryears (Laver, Newcomb, etc...). But, the new stars are considered "colorful" and good for Nielsen ratings. The better-adjusted old guard sportsmanship is considered dull and unmarketable. Pete Sampras is a case in point. He was one of the greatest players of all times. He was also among the very few and ultimate sportsman in his era. But, instead of being adulated and emulated he was criticized by the public and ignored by the sponsors as being too dull.
What is really interesting about the mini biographies Bodo writes about the super stars is how unexpected they are. Often, the villains come across so much better once you get to know them better. Connors, Lendl, McEnroe, and Seles all come across as much more balanced, and more interesting than you would expect. They seem much more likeable than their on court persona. Some of their rivalries also make for a fascinating read. On the other hand, everyone's good guy Borg is a pathological Greek tragedy. Of course Borg was an incredible sportsman much like the Australians were. But, he was a monolithic truly dysfunctional character who could not see his place anywhere in the world outside of being number one. Out of all former champions, retirement has been most cruel to Borg because he had nothing to fall back on. He had no side interest, and no life to speak off outside tennis. He made an embarrassing attempt to return to tennis playing with wood racquets in an era of carbon graphite and Teflon. He failed miserably loosing to journeymen.
Bodo's book stops in the early 90s. He acknowledges at the end of the book that the Open era seemed to have turned the corner with a more sportsmanlike young emerging generation of American champions (Chang, Courier, Agassi, and Sampras). The great generation of emerging champions Bodo mentioned all have retired (except for Agassi, and as of this writing he may be months from doing so). They have been replaced by a group of interesting foreigners who may prove ultimately better for the game as the talent is more diversified.
Bodo's book even outclasses a series of excellent books on the same subject, including "Bad News for McEnroe" by Bill Scanlon, and "Tennis Confidential" by Paul Fein. "You Can't Be Serious" by John McEnroe is in a lesser league because as one can expect it is so much more self-centered than the others. Yet, it is still an excellent and very entertaining book. This tells you how much I have appreciated all these books, and Bodo's above all.
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