While gathering thoughts of moments spent, I remember most your gracious presence, to me you lent. The world of fame in your time, bestowed upon your raucous being,”legendary”, before your name. In my troubled slumber, I see you gracefully moving from sideline to sideline, with now gone rackets of lumber returning lobes and smashes. I don’t think the world will ever see your like again, no I don’t think there will ever be another such personality.
In my teens I went to see you play, but alas your tantrum running its natural course, cause you to miss that day. Many many years past until fate brought forth our friendship fast. Many many years more we spent our time on various courts, expounding, hitting balls of yellow felt and solving problems in loud retorts. Now your gone to just rewards and I miss the sound of your biting vocal cords.
Maybe a few stories told will help me to mend and put to an end my effort that now I pretend. I remember the time a golf tournament we went. A tournament for sports “hall of fame’s”, Baseball, Football, Hockey, Basketball, Jockeys, and Tennis. Of course you were of the tennis greats, but more you were a celebrity of your time. I remember how those great stars of the “50” and “60” flocked to meet you and it didn’t occur to you that you were the center of conversation and of all the greats there you were the one they wanted most to meet. I don’t think you ever knew how your peers held you in awe. I would stand aside and watch as one after another would shake your hand and ask about this or that, that happened in your life. In this respect you still remained just another guy who was happy to be yourself.
Your talents ranged to other things, of course you tried racing cars for a time but I remember most that you tinkered with everything, car engines, golf clubs, landscaping, games of all variety, and just about any thing you could take apart. You had to be one of the worlds greatest tinkers. Another talent you probably were unaware of, was one vary rare and unnoticed by anyone but me. You had the ability to make any girl, women or female you met feel like a princess. I often marvel to my self how you would take the time to talk and flatter any woman you met no matter age or looks. It would be only a few minutes but you left them smiling and happy, My own daughter when answering a phone call would brighten and smile and I knew it was from you before she would call for me. It was a gift unexplainable, because of how aloof you were with your public image.
I feel better now that I have put my feelings to ink. Maybe this will help me to lessen how much I miss all the times we spent hitting tennis balls, playing golf and solving world problems. I hope right now on a higher court you are two sets up on some other tennis great that resides with you now. So long old friend.
