Evert/Katerina (Bud & Co.) - 3rd Rnd - 1987 French
…Todd

My memories of some of the colorful (bizarre) commentary between Bud Collins, Joanne Russell & Dick Enberg of NBC are as strong as some of the match memories themselves, though admittedly less inspiring.

I remember a 3rd round match at the 1987 French when Chris was playing Katerina Maleeva (Manuela’s younger sister).  Chris was playing in the “bullring” at Roland Garros.  This was unusual as Chris normally played on Court Central (or “Court Philippe Chatrier” as it is now known) and Dick Enberg asked Joanne about what it was like to play in the bullring.  Joanne didn’t seem to be answering with a reply that Dick was looking for and they went through this awkward repartee for several minutes and Dick just finally gave up.  Later, Dick asked how many women had actually beaten Chris on clay during her career.  Bud chimed in and said that they (NBC-I guess) would send anyone a clump of red clay if they could answer the question correctly.  After a moment Dick started to tell the audience who all the women were who had beaten Chris on clay.  Bud stopped him and said that Dick was “ruining” his contest plans.  Dick said “Well, you didn’t want to send out all those handfuls of clay, did you?!”, so Bud told him to continue and Dick said (rather indignantly), “No, you’ve ruined it for me now!” . . . .it was too funny.  CLEARLY, the match had become less important.
 
Later in the match, Katerina hit a drop shot, Chris ran up to the net only to hit a drop shot winner off of Maleeva’s drop shot when Bud exclaimed, “Ah, never hook a hooker!” . . . . . I thought that was the funniest thing I had ever heard.  I wasn’t sure then (and I am not sure now) exactly what that meant but something about the way that he phrased it was hysterical to me.  At this point in the match I didn’t know if I was watching a tennis match or if I was on an episode of the “Twilight Zone”.  Now as I look back on it, I yearn for those crazy commentary moments.  The commentary now is so different . . . almost predictable.  John McEnroe never cared a fig for women’s tennis when he was playing.  Now that he is a commentator he drones on and on endlessly during all of the women’s matches.  At least we have Mary Carillo to liven things up!