These crazy Bank of America commercials have got to be the most annoying things I have seen on TV in quite sometime! "Dear Jeffery..." UGH!! Also since I can't read all the posts what do you think about my selection of Hana Mandlikova as the most natural grass court woman's player? Damn she was graceful, talented, and had a gr8 serve and volley game! Grass was built for her, but it's the only major she did not win! GO FIGURE!!!

I agree Mandlikova was talented but as she, Adriano Panatta, Ilie Nastase, Vijay Armitraj and Evonne Goolagong proved repeatedly, talent doesn't always get you the winner's trophy. Not sure what year it was but Mandlikova was facing Evert in the semis at Wimbledon but was already talking about playing Martina in the finals. Evert got pissed and cleaned Hana's clock 2 and 2. Give me mental gifts (Evert, King) over physical gifts any day.

lakers: I hear you loud and clear bout those annoying commercials. I am tired of the loud tone of the commercials that feature Led Zepellin. Too many and too often.

TC, I think that was 1981. Evert's last title, just before Navratilova went on her six straight Wimbledon run.

Actually, Hana did lose to Chris in the 81 final 2 and 2. However, the more infamous incident mentioned happened in 84. Hana was talking schmack throughout the tournament about playing Martina in the final and what her chances were. People were raising eyebrows as Madame Evert stood in the way. Chris walked out onto Centre Court and cleaned Hana's clock 1 and 2. (One sports writer said Chris' passing shots that day made the court look as wide as a football field.)

It got even better, because Chris (never one to take being dissed) proceeded to take her time collecting her things after the match. Clearly, she was making her point explicitly clear to Hana. Players are supposed to leave together on Centre Court so they can curtsy to the box. Hana got upset and walked off court without Chris.

Unfortunately, Chris' focus only lasted another half set. She lost in the final to Martina 6 and 2 after taking a big two break lead to start the match. Another disappointing day at Centre Court that day.

Didn't know that. Go Chris. Mandlikova is something of a loony though.

I remember that, charlie!! Gotta say, your memory of the details is remarkable. Mine's not so good, but I'll try to get this right ... anybody remember the Pam Shriver diss of Queen Chris? During one of the Grand Slams (Wimbledon, I think, but can't remember the year), Pam made a rather impolitic complaint that she was always in Martina's half of the draw, so she was always meeting Martina in the semis, implying that if she were in Chris's half of the draw, she'd have a better chance of getting to the final. At that point, Shriver had never beaten Chris in numerous meetings, so you can imagine how Chris bristled at the suggestion. She snapped back that she couldn't understand what Pam was so upset about since she hadn't even been able to live up to her seeding in a the past few GS events. Ouch! Granted, a bitchy little dig, but in fairness to Chris, it was an accurate statement. The next time they played each other, the finals at Newport on grass (Shriver's best surface and Chris's worst), Chris crushed Pam. You'd think that Pam had been around tennis long enough and knew Chris well enough to know better, but obviously not.

You'd think that players would learn not to say these things about great champions. Certainly if Navratilova respected and never underestimated Evert, then Shriver, Mandlikova, and the rest of the field should know better too.

It reminds me of Hingis calling Graf "old and over the hill." Then came the French Open '99.

Remember the 1985 US OPEN? Hana bt both Chris & Martina to win the event! I don't think anything Hana said was out of disrespect, she was speaking of confidence in her game! The Chris dis at Wimbeldon also included Shriver and Jordan. It is remarkable you only remember Hana's digs! Hana had some issues and unsportsman like qualities, but please remember it was Billie Jean King, and later Navratilova who refused the handshake following the match! I belive it was at the "Family Circle Cup" in '84.

Yes, Chris took it out on poor Pammy. (Who then wrote about the whole thing in her book a couple of years later.) Madame Evert is one person not to get riled. She hardly needed any more focus on court.

Hana learned her lesson well and was exceptionally quiet at the 85 Open. Chris was again #1 in the world and Martina was suffering a little slump (other than winning Wimbledon yet again that year), so the talk was all about Chris maybe outgunning Martina and wrapping up the #1 title after a three year absence from that crown.

Hana slid in and beat both in three sets. Chris played underwhelming tennis (the divorce was starting to happen with John). Hana simply outplayed Martina, though the final result was much closer than the level of play would have brought about.

It's funny that we're talking about this. Christ Evert was talking about the very same thing and how opponents she didn't like or felt nothing toward she played better against.