A TERRIBLE SPLENDOR
By Marshall Jon Fisher 2009
Reviewed by Billy E. Crawford
Before Federer vs. Nadal, or Borg vs. McEnroe, possibly the greatest tennis match ever played pitted American Don Budge against German Baron Gottfried Von Cramm. Using white balls and wooden racquets, this dramatic 5-set match was played on the hallowed centre court at Wimbledon. At stakes--- the 1937 Davis Cup finals.
Featuring Budge, Von Cramm, and Bill Tilden, the author skillfully weaves the lives of these three international tennis superstars of the first half of the 20th Century into a virtuoso tennis lesson , a socio-political history lesson, and an in-depth look into their personal lives. One interesting read.
Peter Bodo, senior editor and chief columnist for Tennis Magazine writes
“It’s taken almost seventy-five years for a sufficiently gifted writer to re-create the magnificence of that event, but it’s worth every moment of the wait.”
But there is more! You get “extra credit” if you can answer these questions correctly before reading this book.
- Budge or Von Cramm---who won the match?
- What is the occupation of Dwight Davis who, in 1900, placed an order at Shreve, Crump, and Low Co. of Boston for a trophy bowl made of 217 ounces of sterling silver lined with gold (the Davis Cup)?
- Many tennis historians believe the greatest doubles team, before the Bryan brothers, was Don Budge and his partner. What was his partner’s name?
2 out of 3 wins this set! Let me know how you did.
Let me know how you did at billyecrawford@gmail.com
HAPPY READING
