Tank's Take July 4, 2003

You Don't Know What You Got, Until It's Gone.

Don't it always go you don't know what you got, until it's gone can be the motto of men's tennis over the last 25 years. In the early 80's when Jimmy Connors and John McEnroe were dominating the scene many groaned that there combative style gave tennis a black eye especially from McEnroe, who earned the nickname "Super Brat" for his outrageous on-court tirades. However, many were entertained by McEnroe and Connors and when their careers were over fans lamented for the days when John McEnroe, shouted at at line judge and umpire.

A total opposite personality would soon come to dominate the men's game in the 90's named Pete Sampras. Sampras who would go on to win a record 14 major singles titles was a complete and polar opposite of the bombastic John McEnore and the intense Jimmy Connors. However through it all he just one battle through stomach ailments, and injury whatever was thrown at him he seemed to be able to overcome it. Unless of course we are talking the clay of the French Open, but that is another story.

While Pete Sampras was unable to win a title at the French Open, he completely dominated on the grass of Wimbledon winning a record 7 titles in 8 years from 1993-2000. However, despite the dominant play Pete Sampras was never fully embraced by tennis fans who often looked at him as bland and boring. The fans that had grown up with McEnroe and Connors wished Sampras would throw his racket or argue with umpires. The subject was even approached in a television commercial where John McEnore was attempting to coach Sampras in the art of throwing an on-court tantrum. However, that was never in his personality, and though perhaps the greatest men's tennis player of all-time Pete Sampras never got the appreciation he deserved through out the bulk of his career.

However, things began to change in 2000 after he won his record 13th singles title at Wimbledon suddenly he began playing less and began focusing on his home life with actress Bridgette Wilson. The two would get married and start a family as Sampras went 2 years without winning any singles title let alone a grand slam title.

Talk began to circulate that Sampras would retire soon as he played in the 2002 US Open. There Pete Sampras would rediscover his game as he beat Andre Agassi to win his 14th grand slam title. After winning Sampras decided to not play another tournament in 2002. He has yet to play a tournament in 2003.

As Wimbledon began nearly 2 weeks ago all of a sudden it became clear that Pete Sampras the tennis player who was dismissed as bland and boring was sorely missed. When asked recently about a comeback Pete Sampras said he had no desire of playing and was content with how his career ended with a US Open Championship. If in fact he does stay retired his championship at the US Open would be perhaps the greatest swan song the history of professional tennis.

Which brings us back to the original line of you don't realize what you got until its gone. Pete Sampras is missed now that he is gone and at the age of 32 if he does not comeback with in the next year he will be past his prime in the sport of tennis where most stars are washed before their 30th birthday. It is just to bad Pete never felt this appreciation when he was at his best in the late 90's.

As for who will replace Sampras on the center stage of American tennis Andy Roddick has an excellent shot as he is in the semifinals of Wimbledon. If the 20-year Roddick wins he will go along way to establishing himself as the next big star in tennis. If he does win and become the next big star lets hope he get appreciation during his career, and not after he hangs up his racket for the final time.

While tennis fans will miss Pete Sampras Mets fans are saying good riddance to Roberto Alomar, who came to New York with a Hall of Fame resume, and is leaving after one and half disgraceful seasons with his career in limbo. Alomar who was a consistent .300 hitter batted a miserable .265 with the Mets while driving in just 75 RBI in a year and half after regularly driving in 100 a year.

Weather or not Roberto Alomar rebounds with Chicago White Sox remains to be seen, but if he wants to get in the Hall of Fame, he must relocate the level of play, which made him an All-Star. Being back in the American League should help, but the answer fall to Alomar, himself.

Supposedly Alomar was never comfortable in New York. Which is one of the most stunning excuses I have ever heard. Alomar a native of Puerto Rico could have been a hero of epic proportions in New York with its large Puerto Rican population. When Alomar was acquired in December of 2001 fans of the Mets began counting down to opening day in 2002. Fans wanted to love Alomar he got some of the loudest cheers during opening day.

However, he struggled early and never seemed as if he was interested in playing. That turns off New York fans more then anything. While Jeromy Burnitz struggled miserably as with the rest of the Mets in 2002, many Mets fans appreciated the effort Burntiz gave, and its paying off as he could be the Mets lone All-Star Game representative at this year's All-Star Game. .

Another excuse heard about Alomar's struggles is that with the Mets in last place he could not get into the game. Which is the lamest excuse I have heard. Though not the lone reason the Mets who entered 2002 with the high hopes of a World Championship to the team that is rebuilding now, has been a disappointment. Alomar is not the lone reason Mets GM Steve Phillips was recently fired. However, he is in the top 5. If Roberto Alomar had played like Roberto Alomar there is no way the Mets would have been a bust in 2002, and there is no way they would be in last place now. This is clearly a situation where Alomar must look in the mirror other wise he will fail in Chicago too.

As Mets fans are happy to see Roberto Alomar go fans of the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim just 1 month after losing to the New Jersey Devils in the Stanley Cup Finals have to be depressed over the departure of Paul Kariya. Kariya who was the Mighty Ducks first ever draft pick has been the top scorer for that franchise almost every season since making his debut in the lockout shortened 1994/95 season.

Until the recent playoff run by Goalie Jean-Sebastien Giguere, Paul Kariya had been the biggest star the Ducks have ever had, and he was their captain since 1996. Inspirational at times Kariya getting up from a Scott Stevens hit in Game 6 to score a goal seemed to be the symbol of the Ducks resiliency in the finals playing the much stronger New Jersey Devils.

However, instead of capitalizing on their run to the finals the Ducks are back into the roll of underdogs as Kariya was not offered a contract and virtually let go without a fight by the Ducks. Ironically Paul Kariya will be reunited with former Ducks teammate Teemu Selanne who also signed with the Colorado Avalanche yesterday, giving the Avs the most potent offense in the NHL, if they get a goalie to replace Patrick Roy the NHL better look out because there will be an Avalanche warning through out the playoffs.

While tennis fans miss Pete Sampras and Mets fans hope the door did in fact hit Roberto Alomar on the way out, as Ducks fans wonder why, the disappearance of Baylor Basketball player Patrick Dennehy is quickly developing into the big story of the summer.

Patrick Dennehy who has not been heard of in nearly 3 weeks is feared dead and former teammate Carlton Dotson is seen in some circles as the top suspect as reports have an informant claiming Dotson shot Dennehy in the head and dumped his body.

Both players were hardly top stars in basketball Dennehy sat out all last season while transferring from New Mexico, while Dotson recently lost his scholarship at Baylor. However, the attention this has gotten from the national news, giving it front-page coverage demonstrates America's love for a mystery, while having no regards to the lives of those affected.

Chances are Patrick Dennehy will not be found alive, and like Bison Dele last summer the coverage has become sensationalized. With all this coverage taking a pair of unknown college basketball players from a losing program into household names. This means no matter if Carlton Dotson did it or not his life will never be the same every time his name is mentioned the disappearance of Dennehy will be mentioned. In addition if he goes to trial it will turn into another circus trial, which turns an already tragic situation, and makes things worse.