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Type of bind: Hardcover
Dewey Decimal Number: 796.3420922
EAN num: 9781597971737
ISBN number: 1597971731
Label: Potomac Books Ltd.
Manufacturer: Potomac Books Ltd.
Quantity: 1
Page Count: 288
Printing Date: April 28, 2008
Publishing house: Potomac Books Ltd.
Sale Popularity Level: 40496
Studio: Potomac Books Ltd.
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Award-winning tennis writer Paul Fein is back at his shot-making best with Tennis Confidential II: More of Today’s Greatest Players, Matches, and Controversies. Tennis keeps moving forward and so does Fein, giving readers his insightful and thoughtprovoking opinions on a myriad of hot-button topics.
Who is the greatest men’s player ever? The greatest women’s player ever? Is it clever or counter-productive to let players challenge line calls? How about oncourt coaching? Scoring system changes? The television networks and tennis’s ruling bodies fervently push these controversial reforms, but do they help or hurt tennis? Fein questions and debunks conventional wisdom as only he can, and his in-depth knowledge and authoritative analyses of the sport provide a welcome perspective.
Fein writes about today’s headliners like Roger Federer, Maria Sharapova, Andy Roddick, and the Williams sisters, plus popular former champions such as Andre Agassi, Yannick Noah, Jim Courier, Martina Hingis, and Stefan Edberg. He chronicles the exciting evolution of women’s tennis and its heroic pioneers, explains the near-extinction of the dynamic serve-and-volley game and how to save it, and revisits an unforgettable era when tennis players “rocked.”
This entertaining and compelling compendium of tennis interviews, features, and essays is sure to intrigue, inform, and enlighten. Anyone who enjoys reading about tennis will find Paul Fein’s Tennis Confidential II a winner.
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Rated by buyers -
In his inimitable style, Paul Fein analyzes the issues, arms himself with the facts, and then lets his opponents have it. Whether it's taking a sledgehammer to the misguided advocates of on-court coaching or exposing the flawed thinking that's given rise to the absurdity of player challenges, Fein made me feel like standing up and applauding.
As a coach, I found myself actually cheering when I read his enlightening chapter entitled "How America Can Produce Champions Again." I was fascinated to learn why "the best two-handed backhands are much superior to the best one-handed backhands," and why we should "ditch the flawed, open-stance, two handed backhand that Venus and Serena use regularly." This chapter alone should make the book required reading for any tennis coach with an interest in US junior tennis development.
However, what I liked most of all about the book is that Fein clarified my thinking on many of tennis' controversies. He takes seemingly grey issues, quickly separates the grey from the white, and then presents well-reasoned arguments with a certainty that must leave some of tennis' "dogmatists for change" looking for the nearest sewer to slither back into.
On the other hand, if you're an advocate of introducing no-ad scoring, replacing deciding sets with tie-breakers, or sacrificing the integrity of the game to the mindless masses in the name of television and entertainment, whatever you do, don't buy this book. It'll be much too dangerous for your health.
Rated by buyers -
Paul Fein is nothing short of a master. His latest book, Tennis Confidential II, will make you chuckle at times (don't miss the Fascinating Facts at the end of most chapters), it'll make you cry at others (What! Get rid of player challenges? Let's talk about that!), but most of all it will fire you up and make you consider--and re-consider-- the great tennis issues.
I especially enjoyed the chapter on Famous Feuds in Tennis History. Who knew that Renaissance painters even played tennis, let alone that one murdered his tennis opponent over a disputed score? I loved re-living those nasty McEnroe/Connors days. And, by the way, Anna Kournikova fairly drips acid. Oh, it's delicious!
Mostly, I learned a lot. Fein is as instructive as he is entertaining. I didn't know about the 13 factors that make line calling difficult. Even when I thought I understood an issue, Fein gave me more to think about. In my opinion, this book is one that will be enjoyed both by novices and seasoned players. You can check out stories about people who have changed the sport, Fein's list of top players of all time, and some intriguing ideas about how to fire up the game.
Fein says tennis players love to argue. Well . . . we agree on that!
Rated by buyers -
Paul Fein is one of the best and intellectually sound tennis writers today. As in his previous two books, he has proven this again in his latest, Tennis Confidential II. The player profiles are both intimate and informative, his analyses of the great players' records and achievements are based on thorough research, his discusion of the hottest topics of the day is provocative, and the player interviews are revealing. By frequently quoting leading players, journalists, and officials, Fein makes the various articles much more interesting and buttresses their objectivity . The sidebars "Fascinating Facts" offer numerous, previously little known tennis tidbits. While many of the articles appeared in tennis publications several years ago, they are not only timeless, but actually rekindle wonderful memories.
Fein does not shy away from expressing firm opinions. However, rather than simply imposing his views in a dogmatic fashion, he challenges the reader to at least reexamine preconceived positions. Have you been wondering how to improve line calling? Read this book. Are you opposed to no-ad scoring? Fein will tell you why you are right. Do you need to convince your golfing buddy that his hobby is less of a sport than yours? You will find help in this book.
As far as the numerous profiles of people who have made their important mark on the tennis landscape, it would be difficult to point to any one as being superior. Having always been impressed by Andre Agassi, - the man, my admiration was strengthened after reading Fein's wonderful piece. And what about the stories of the great bunch of Aussies, their sportsmanship and camaraderie during those simpler amateur days. Also, Fein's descriptions of the sports most enduring characters - Nastase, Tiriac, Connors, McEnroe, Gerulitis, and others - invoke a nostalgia for the "good old days".
As an interviewer, Fein has few equals. The questions he poses reflect his sound judgement and great knowledge of the game. He obviously makes his subjects comfortable so that their responses are both honest and revealing, thus enabling the reader to gain a new perspective on these stars. I enjoyed these interviews so much that singling any one out would not be fair. However, having said that, I did find the Noah and Wilander interviews particularly insightful.
To the tennis nut, the book offers an enjoyable trip down memory lane, to the casual fan it illuminates previously unseen vistas. I truly believe that anyone even remotely interested in the game of tennis will enjoy reading this book.
Harry R. Kirsch
Rated by buyers -
Paul Fein has done it again. Tennis Confidential II is the most informative and entertaining book I've read in years.
Clearly the game's foremost deep thinker, Fein's latest collection of essays thoroughly explore some of the games most captivating issues. His take on the greatest men and women players of all time and the tennis vs. golf debate are must reads for all sports fans. Buy this book immediately!
Rated by buyers -
Paul Fein's books are always fun reading. Besides that they're instructive about many aspects of the tennis world. I read the original Tennis Confidential a few years ago and learned about the greatest players, matches and controversies, past and present. I've reread it because it was that good. Tennis Confidential II is even better because of the features. I loved "When Tennis Players Rocked" about the brash boys Connors, McEnroe and Nastase and other colorful rogues. "You've Come A Long Way, Ladies" is like taking a college course about the history of women's tennis. Famous feuds captures the intensity and fury of pro tennis from an unusual angle. Other features about Roddick, Sharapova, Sampras and Agassi are also superb. In the essays section, Fein digs into all kinds of controversies about who the greatest players are, player challenges (which he debunks), on-court coaching, and how American can produce champions again. If you play both tennis and golf, you're going to zero in on the essay about which of those two sports is tougher. There are 12 interviews, all of which are unpredictable and interesting. My only complaint is that I wish it had interviews with Federer and Nadal who appear on the book cover. The trivia has some unbelievable stuff, including amusing tidbits about both President Bushes, Federer, Hingis, Sharapova, Serena Williams, etc. This is a book that will double or triple your knowledge of tennis while you have a fun time doing it.
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