Julian Johnson Article Archive

B/R Articles

An Open Letter to James Blake

James, You have mad talent, son! A fast set of wheels, wrapped around a concussive forehand, a solid, potent backhand, a mighty serve, fundamentally sound volleys. But so far, the parts are far greater than the sum...

Written by Julian Johnson about 4 months ago 452 reads 57 comments
Tennis Great "Whirlwind" Gets His Due: Inducted Into the Hall of Fame

It's 1:30am and I can't sleep. My grandfather, Dr. Robert Walter "Whirlwind" Johnson, is being inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in Newport, Rhode Island. TOMORROW! Like I said, I can't sleep...

Written by Julian Johnson about 4 months ago 123 reads 16 comments
Roger Federer: Party Of Three?

The great NBA center, Moses Malone, when asked about his team's playoff chances back in 1983, coolly predicted: "Fo', fo', fo'," as in three, 4-nothing sweeps of their playoff comp...

Written by Julian Johnson about 5 months ago 1,686 reads 13 comments
Art vs. the Assembly Line

The words of Margaret Smith Court, calendar Grand Slam winner in 1970, struck me recently as I pondered their implications: Although she no longer played, Smith Court still followed tennis, particularly the Grand Slams...

Written by Julian Johnson about 5 months ago 194 reads 17 comments
What a Match, What a Man!!

Like a prayer, like Jimmy Hendrix kneeling over his instrument with lighter fluid and match, this was no mere Grand Slam final. This was a spectacle, an exorcism, a coronation. Definitely maybe...

Written by Julian Johnson about 5 months ago 545 reads 8 comments
Brush With Greatness: Bjorn Borg

Welcome to a new series called "Brush with Greatness." We look forward to your tales of meeting or rubbing elbows with your sporting heroes and sheroes. Here's my story: My dad was our coach more than our father...

Written by Julian Johnson about 6 months ago 270 reads 23 comments
Excessive Celebration vs. the Spirit-Killers

"When we say it's a game, you say its a business and when we say it's a business, you say it's a game." - A character in the pro football film, "North Dallas Forty." Football is a game, but it's a business...

Written by Julian Johnson about 6 months ago 142 reads 9 comments
George Preston Marshall's Strange Fruit

STRANGE FRUITSouthern trees bear a strange fruitBlood on the leaves and blood at the root Black body swinging in the southern breeze Strange fruit hanging from the poplar trees Pastoral scene ...

Written by Julian Johnson about 6 months ago 247 reads 15 comments
The Only Thing Wrong with B/R Writers' Rankings Is That They Exist

"I AM THE GREATEST!" —Muhammad Ali “I say, play your own way. Don’t play what the public want—you play what you want and let the public pick up on what you doing—even if it does take them fifteen, twenty years...

Written by Julian Johnson about 7 months ago 248 reads 61 comments
Giant Killers: The Chip & Charge Artist

"Chip and Charge." You've probably never heard that phrase before if you were born after 1975, not even on the Tennis Channel or ESPN Classic...

Written by Julian Johnson about 7 months ago 237 reads 31 comments
Two Aspirin For Amelie Mauresmo

The California Bear sports bar is on (not so) Grand Avenue in Oakland, CA. A stone's throw from Lake Merritt, the Bear is the place to go if you want to watch your favorite team from the beer ...

Written by Julian Johnson about 7 months ago 104 reads 9 comments
So Long, Roger: My Resignation From The People's Temple Of Roger Federer

I was lying in bed having decided that I wanted to learn the outcome of the Federer/Nadal Aussie Open final in the morning. I had to work the next day, Sunday, and the match was on at 3:00am Pacific...

Written by Julian Johnson about 7 months ago 620 reads 66 comments
New BR Feature: The Nutsack Report!

In an effort to provide equal time for those who prefer jock straps to g-strings, here is the first installment of a new, ESPN'esque series here at BR, the Nutsack Report...

Written by Julian Johnson about 7 months ago 114 reads 12 comments
James Blake: Inside an Enigma

Two scenes from a career. Scene One: US Open 2005. Blake plays Paul Bunyan to Andre Agassi's virgin forest for two and one half sets...

Written by Julian Johnson about 7 months ago 568 reads 25 comments
Althea Gibson Vs. Arthur Ashe: A Contrast

Saraswathi has asked me to answer a series of questions about the relative contributions of Althea Gibson and Arthur Ashe to the game of tennis...

Written by Julian Johnson about 7 months ago 215 reads 20 comments
Memo to Tennis Officialdom: Need Change

Tennis must have a Commissioner/Commission This one development will determine whether tennis develops a logical, ethical governing body that oversees and guides the sport with wisdom and vision; ...

Written by Julian Johnson about 7 months ago 223 reads 8 comments
Why I Would Never Join the United States Professional Tennis Association

Zina Garrison sues the United States Tennis Association (USTA) after being dismissed as Federation Cup Captain. Two referees of color sue the International Tennis Federation for alleged discrimination in assignments and opportunities...

Written by Julian Johnson about 7 months ago 208 reads 11 comments

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Julian Johnson Article Archive

An Open Letter to James Blake

Tennis Great "Whirlwind" Gets His Due: Inducted Into the Hall of Fame

Roger Federer: Party Of Three?

Art vs. the Assembly Line

What a Match, What a Man!!

Brush With Greatness: Bjorn Borg

Excessive Celebration vs. the Spirit-Killers

George Preston Marshall's Strange Fruit

The Only Thing Wrong with B/R Writers' Rankings Is That They Exist

Giant Killers: The Chip & Charge Artist

Two Aspirin For Amelie Mauresmo

So Long, Roger: My Resignation From The People's Temple Of Roger Federer

New BR Feature: The Nutsack Report!

James Blake: Inside an Enigma

Althea Gibson Vs. Arthur Ashe: A Contrast

Memo to Tennis Officialdom: Need Change

Why I Would Never Join the United States Professional Tennis Association

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