Volume CXXXIII, Number 13 January 25, 2002 f

Sampras finds a new sponsor?
ANDREW MINESS
COLUMNIST

As a professional tennis fan, I find myself defending the sport to those who claim that it requires less skill and endurance than the typical major sports. Of course tennis does not have the same aesthetic appeal as a bone crushing hit in football, or a reverse dunk in basketball, or even a diving catch in baseball; but one must appreciate the gracefulness, athleticism and concentration required to return a 140 mph serve or to make a diving volley on break point. Coaching is not allowed, nor is an extended timeout for what is termed "a lack of conditioning" (better known as cramping). Thus, to those skeptical of the skill needed to play professional tennis, I merely have to point you to a great such as Pete Sampras.

Sampras embodies the ingredients needed to become a legend in professional tennis. His composure, matched with uncanny quickness and toughness has catapulted him to the top of tennis record books. He has won 13 Grand Slam titles in his career, more than any man to ever play the game. However, Sampras has often been criticized for failing to bring a strong personality to the game. He has let his racket do the talking, instead of becoming wrapped up in the commercialized corporate world that has turned many professional tennis players (namely Andre Agassi and Anna Kournikova) into celebrities rather than pure athletes. That is why I have respected Sampras so much over the years; he never made himself bigger than the sport - that is up until the 2002 Australian Open when he sewed American flags over Nike emblems on all his clothing.

Sampras ended his eight-year contract with Nike, citing that, "At the end of the day you have to feel good about the deals that you do, and as regards to Nike, I don't." That is fine; Sampras does not have to continue his sponsorship with Nike if he does not wish to. But give me a break, please do not sew an American flag over the Nike swoosh on your playing shirts and attire because now it is convenient for you! With the current status of America, the flag has certainly taken on new meaning to many people. Many Americans have decided to attach American flags onto their cars and houses since the attacks of September 11. In doing so, Americans have made a concerted effort to show their patriotism and respect for those men and women risking their lives to protect this country.

I feel like Sampras decided to place the flags on his Nike attire for the wrong reasons. It seems like more than a coincidence that Sampras had the flags sewn on after his contract expired, rather than doing so at season ending tournaments in 2001. In my opinion, it shows a lack of sensitivity on the part of Sampras. It appears that he did what was popular merely because it played in nicely with his contract problems with Nike. The American flag is about patriotism and respect for this nation's history, not a fashionable design sewn onto clothing to cover a company's name. In this case, Sampras allowed skeptics of professional tennis to criticize the sport, and rightfully so. America is at war over competing ideologies and to retaliate after September 11. Therefore, the flag should be a symbol of America's solidarity and pride; not a symbol hiding a Nike swoosh. Thus, the advantage does not go to Sampras...