Tennis is a major Sport for women, running will always be a niche sport , where viewers sit in there basement watch a race online , where the organizers use iPhones as cameras.
Read Andre Agassi's autobiography. Incredible that his lunatic father is still alive at age 90.
DanM wrote:
Read Andre Agassi's autobiography. Incredible that his lunatic father is still alive at age 90.
+1 great book. You do not even need to be any sport fan to really enjoy the story.
Regarding tennis, it is super expensive. If you want to be good you are probably spending somewhere between 20-60k per year since late middle school for coaching, travelling, gear, etc. Look at diacussions at tennis boards where conclusion is basically cost/possible scholarship does not really pay off.
Then dont look at what top 5 makes, look at say ATP 80-100, players who get to play Grand Slams but are on the cusp. They are bringing probably somewhere around 300k per year and after taxes, coaching, training and trips not sure if they even are over 100k.
Then look at what #100 NBA player makes, probably 10m + before taxes, and the cost of training, travelling etc during highschool is nothing conpared to tennis.
That might depend on country (cost of tennis) in countries where you can play outsoor and that have rich traditions of sport it might be slifhtly cheaper, but it is EXPENSIVE.
That house doesn't look lived in. Seems like an antiseptic museum. Sad, really
If you don't live in a warm weather area of the US then you are also going to have to fork out money for a membership to an indoor tennis club. Those can be quite pricey. Factor in the cost of coaching and it gets expensive very fast.
If tennis is so expensive why are so many amazing players from poor Eastern European countries?
Novak Djokovic Literally grew it in a war zone in Serbia.
If you have the will power you CAN make it out the trenches and be the one of the best in the world at your chosen sport.
Why are you all so concerned about making money? The reason to play tennis is: that’s what the women play.
Dairyland wrote:
If tennis is so expensive why are so many amazing players from poor Eastern European countries?
I live in France and the cost of an average club in France is around €130-€150 per year and then you can play as much as you want. If you wanna play competitive tennis with coaching then you need to add on an extra €50 per month for coaching.
those kids who are spotted early in France who have potential to be good are then placed in a training school system for tennis and if the parents don’t have the money they are entirely sponsored.
The bowling alley is the best part. I am considering having one added to whatever house I retire to...that is definitely on the criteria list when looking for a home to retire to -- can we legally and logistically add a bowling alley. I would average more than an hour a day bowling if I had one in the house. A trampoline room is the other thing I want.
How about getting your kids to play a wide variety of sports/activities to develop physical literacy so they have lots of options for recreation and activities when they are older.
Few in any sport are going to make a dime off being a competitor in that sport.
Stop obsessing over the few who "make it".
Dairyland wrote:If tennis is so expensive why are so many amazing players from poor Eastern European countries?
They get discovered when young and then are supported by the group they sign a contract with. They become their agent when/if they become a pro.
Flagpole wrote:
The bowling alley is the best part. I am considering having one added to whatever house I retire to...that is definitely on the criteria list when looking for a home to retire to -- can we legally and logistically add a bowling alley. I would average more than an hour a day bowling if I had one in the house. A trampoline room is the other thing I want.
A trampoline room might be the coolest thing I’ve ever heard of in my life. You wouldn’t have to worry about a dead circle of grass in your backyard either
It takes talent to make it as a runner, nba player, or tennis player. Getting your kid in to tennis is about as good as getting them to play soccer with all the other kids. Not going to make it as a pro unless they were born with the talent to make it. No amount of lessons will fix that.
That's why they used to call Sharapova "The It Girl." She has it all: looks, smarts, athleticism, money.
Chuck Bass wrote:
Novak Djokovic Literally grew it in a war zone in Serbia.
If you have the will power you CAN make it out the trenches and be the one of the best in the world at your chosen sport.
If Djokovic grew into a war zone, then that means that it is cheaper to become a Tennis player if you come from Serbia. His parents would probably never have the means to pay for his tennis lessons if it cost 400$/hr or somebody probably paid for him...
It is not because an activity is expensive somewhere that it has to be the case elsewhere
The reason why tennis players almost all come from upper-class families is because the motions are very complex and have to be nurtured from an early age. It takes well over a decade to teach your muscles how to hit like this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sQIS0fqdV4g&ab_channel=BigFootTennis
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IIqd2SbU1OE&ab_channel=Nikolasab
When tennis tournaments are on TV, the commercials are usually for investment banks, luxury cars. Federer's long-time sponsor is Rolex.
ajatipic wrote:
Chuck Bass wrote:
Novak Djokovic Literally grew it in a war zone in Serbia.
If you have the will power you CAN make it out the trenches and be the one of the best in the world at your chosen sport.
If Djokovic grew into a war zone, then that means that it is cheaper to become a Tennis player if you come from Serbia. His parents would probably never have the means to pay for his tennis lessons if it cost 400$/hr or somebody probably paid for him...
It is not because an activity is expensive somewhere that it has to be the case elsewhere
yeah. So that means kids from war torn detroit and baltimore are going to have it easy making it big in tennis? I mean houses there go for $4,000 in parts.