Rekindled Tennis Passion

Last month's Wimbledon season has re-awakened my liking for tennis. Watching the preliminary rounds made me feel nostalgic of childhood memories when my dad would bring me to his tennis games on Saturdays. I learned how to serve well, do forehand, and backhand decently enough for my age then. I remember even joining junior tennis tournaments in the community, but I didn't even reach the rounds after the preliminaries. I guess my fascination to tennis ends in watching matches, picking up tennis balls for my dad, and collecting them. After having around a hundred tennis balls in my collection, NBA cards stole my attention.

Until now, I still keep my NBA cards collection and even continue adding more cards every time I would find a piece I still do not have yet. I buy them through eBay or MSN Shopping. But last month, my love for tennis was rekindled seeing *Maria Sharapova*, Amelie Muaresmo, Venus Williams, Justin Henin-Hardenne, Andy Roddick, Andre Agassi (his last in Wimbledon), Roger Federrer, and Rafael Nadal battle it out for Oscars of tennis.

Maria Sharapova (my favorite) lost to Amelie Muaresmo in the semis. Mauresmo then knocked down Justin Henin-Hardenne in the finals winning her first Wimbledon Championship. Rafael “Rafa†Nadal made a sweeping pre-finals round beating the likes of Agassi and Bagdhatis. But the King of Clay's spirit did not match Roger Federer's smart moves making him win his fifth Wimbledon. Who's to beat Federer's invincibility?

Call it post-Wimbledon sickness, I decided to re-launch my tennis sports goods collection. This time I will go beyond tennis balls (but I'd still keep them) and plan to add more stuff like wrist bands, rackets, player-inspired shirts, bags, and other apparel. I'm also planning to buy pairs of shoes worn by some of the world's top players if my budget would allow me. I'm not sure if I'm ever going to wear them but I'd really want to get some of those “magical†shoes sported by the champs and runners up.

Being an Adidas user since childhood, I found it easy to look for websites selling Adidas tennis sports goods. Yahoo auction sites have a lot to offer, but still the best spot to shop is in shopadidas.com. I saw there a response court jacket that has a good sporty-stylish balance. For only $40, I might purchase the jacket in less than a week. I might also include in my cart a ClimaLite Mixer Tee at $20, an edgy black $18 Galaxy Clima Cap, and an $8 velocity wristband.

In homage of Nadal and Federer, I immediately placed an order of four Nike Swoosh Bandanas ($8 each) from tennis-warehouse.com. A handful of tempting tennis rubber shoes like that of Nadal's are also available, but I might skip on them for now and start on the most affordable collectibles like Nike grips and bags, and of course, Nadal's signature Nike Fall Wreak Havok Sleeveless Top. I'll buy and wear about three colors of this sleeveless top to give my muscles a share of fame. For a Sharapova-fan friend of mine, I might buy her a pair of Dri-Fit Tennis Low-Cut Socks. Amazon.com and other auction sites are also a good source for they house more brands.

I'm not sure how my limited budget can revive and update my tennis collection. I will scout for more websites that sell or auction tennis sports goods that might offer discounts and win-win promos. Actually, I plan to invest more on items worn by the legendary Pete Sampras. I heard that some of his stuff are actually in auction right now so one of my most-urgent mission is to find a shop or better yet a website that sells Pete Sampras collectibles. I also want to collect Wimbledon, French Open, and Australian Open posters, pictures, and memorabilia. I'd be more than willing to save up for a 1970s or 1980s Wimbledon Finals ticket.

Well, I guess my NBA cards will have to be dormant for a while to give me time to focus more on my tennis collection. If things go better and more money flows in my account, I hope to watch next year's Wimbledon and experience the grass for myself. There I could have a first hand inspection on what the stars are wearing and what to collect afterwards.