Oh my god I am totally shocked!!! NOT!!! I don't like Mary Carillo either.

Carillo listened with interest last Sunday as NBC's Johnny Miller ripped Phil Mickelson during Mickelson's meltdown on the 18th hole of golf's U.S. Open.

Miller's frank and honest commentary of Mickelson's collapse was the highlight of the network's coverage.

But announcers like Miller and Carillo, announcers who are loved by TV critics, often draw the wrath of the players, who mistake honest, open and professional commentary for personal attacks.

"I've been in more penalty boxes than anyone," Carillo said. "As thoughts leave my mouth, I often realize, 'That will cost me a year with that person.'"

Carillo said Andre Agassi doesn't talk to her. She has gone years without speaking to Venus Williams. Serena Williams isn't happy with her. And Maria Sharapova also isn't pleased with Carillo because of things said at the Nasdaq-100.

Complete article:

WTA World Article-Mary Carillo

Nice little piece to read. Thanks.

Not surprising either. Tennis is such an individual sport where the players are solely focused on only one thing -- taking care of themselves. Even players who are largely loved by commentators and fans admit that their lives revolve solely around them. When you get to the more insecure or ego-centric players, it will be even more magnified.

And we see the same thing on this board amongst ourselves. If the players we love and support are criticized in any way, we tend to react strongly and quickly. And we have no personal connection to them!

If a player is criticized by a knowledgeable commentator who is heard by millions of people, it would be a very negative thing for many of the players named.

I love Mary Carillo and I think she is mostly on target with her feedback. Johnny Miller is also a great commentator in his sport. The price they pay for being open and forthcoming is the wrath of players who don't appreciate having their faults pointed out on live television. Probably a small price to pay for being respected and considered one of the best in their profession.

Please leave Mary CaBrillo-pad-hair alone. I love her!

I do not get the chance to listen to Mary Carillo except when she has been in Australia and guested on the local network. I actually find her acerbic wit, particularly when teamed with Pam Shriver,hilarious.

I wish we had Carillo here. I was watching Wimbledon on Fox last night and had to listen to the monotonous drone of that air-head Tracey Austin who talks and talks and talks without ever saying anything.

I find Mary to be one of the best and most astute tennis commentators working. I'd much rather listen to her than PMac drooling and having multiple orgasms calling an Agassi match.

I've always liked Mary, but I do think she's sort of dropped off a bit in the last few years. Not as good as she used to be. I actually like Pam Shriver the best these days.

Speaking of Carillo's "decline," a couple of years ago at the US Open, our lovely friend WWCD swore that he heard her eating a sandwich on-air while commentating.

Yes, indeed. And I've even seen her in the booth eating a sandwich while commentating.

Mary definitely phones it in sometimes these days. She seems like less of a journalist now and more of a character. My respect for Mary took a serious hit at the French Open a few years back when she said that Coria, not fully established as a clay-court great yet but clearly a threat, had nothing to hurt Agassi. Very strange, especially since, in not a huge shocker, Coria beat him that day.

There will always be a soft spot in my heart for her though. I got to meet her a few years ago at some silly corporate event and, after a few glasses of champagne, I walked up to her and said, "Mary! What do you think of Chrissie?" She pulled me to the side and told me a raunchy Chrissie story.

Oh come on....you gotta share it with us.

I like Shriver and Mary Joe together: they're pretty honest and obviously very 'player' aware. I like Carillo and if the superstars like Agassi and Venus don't appreciate her, that's a good sign. I do think she's a bit too aware of her 'style' as she efforts and struggles too often to find those weird analogies and descriptions she's now known for. Sometimes they're just silly but overall she's very funny and tells it like it is. Plus, those players mentioned: Agassi, the Williams, Sharapova are the biggest divas.

So, let's hear the Chrissie story!!!!

Let's hear that story after I share my favorite Carillo-ism....

Emile Loit vs. Serena Williams - After Emile takes the first set at Oz one year, Mary says the following....

"I'm not sure if she'll actually win, but this Frenchwoman certainly has given Serena a Loit to think about" yet

She used to creep me out quite frankly the way she would stare eerily in to the camera, but I'm a huge Mary fan now. Too bad if the players dont like her, not her problem....I'm not sure I buy it anyway. Players respect and usually like knowledgeable commentators...no offense, Chris Fowler.

I think Mary really won me over back when she was anchoring Wimby coverage for HBO and she did her salute/impersonation of Stefan Edberg. "What can I say, I had my shanzes (chances)"

Priceless. You had to be there....hmmm, maybe someone out there remembers.

I remember that. I thought it was hilarious. Still do! So punny.

I like Pam and Mary Jo together too. They seem to have bonded over there finalist-only grand slam careers. I especially like the way Pam characterized Arantxa's marriage: "Arantxa has had rallies that lasted longer." HAHAH

And I'm not sure if Sveta will lose today, but she is certainly dealing with a Peschke opponent.

Look out Mary, I'm gonna steal your job!

I became a Mary fan when she asked Yannick Noah "How the hell are you?" in a court-side interview after he puked on court during a match against Hlasek at the Lipton (Noah won the match). She caught a lot of flack for saying that. I was kind of wondering how the hell he was doing, too.

That, and no one this side of Katie Couric is better with the puns than Mary.

A recent Carillo-ism:

Shortly after the streaker arrived in the women's quarterfinal, Carillo said that Sharapova had really "denuded" Dementieva's game.

I think she is great. Am I the only one whose gaydar she has pinged? I was rather surprised when I read that she is married, with kids.

I LOVE Mary! She is so bright,wity, honest....They just won't let her say enough of the brilliant things she thinks of. I love to see her just not care what anyone thinks. And yeah she is gorgeous. There is no way she is not gay. Anyone can be a breeder. She dumped the donor a long time ago.

Oh dear, Mary is being outed at Outsports!!

I love Mary Carillo. I think she is the best tennis commentator I've ever seen. Major eye candy too. <gulpthud>

I just love it when Mary Cabrillo-Pad Hair announces and recently said about MoeMoe, "Maurimo just barked out a grunt".