Levels of the Game is an all-timer. I have another Racket to recommend, "The Racket: On Tour with Tennis’s Golden Generation – and the other 99%" by Conor Niland. Niland is Ireland's most successful tennis player, and its an account of him trying to climb the rankings. Grim, intense, but funny like Agassi's Open.
Seconded on that book rec. I appreciated how Niland admitted he had almost no chance of staying on tour as long as he did without his parents and their financial support. One of the things that turns my stomach about the current crop of pros is how many of them are rich kids who only lasted this long because they could have a singular focus.
I for one, appreciate the inclusion of tennis in the post. This is the first year I haven’t gone in person to Indian Wells. And I’m too cheap to pay for the tennis channel. So I’ve been listening to play-by-play on YouTube. And watching the highlights later. Like the epic match between Djokovic and Draper.
Also, if you hadn’t mentioned tennis, I might not know about the book that Jared recommended in the comments.
I’ll check out the music recommendations later today, but wanted to encourage more tennis tidbits in the future.
I will second Jared's recommendation of Niland's The Racket. I will humbly request you keep talking about tennis, though. As someone who spends all his time either listening to indie rock or watching and playing tennis, I would love my niche interest catered to
Great that you're shedding light on Doll Spirit. We great to see Kati here in Philly hop on stage w/ Florry when they played a couple weeks ago. And Natalie Jane Hill is a new-to-me-stunner (and great to see Scott of Dr. Dog's hands a bit in the mix).
A belated thank you for introducing me to Pileup. Although I laughed when I read "RIYL: Shoegaze that doesn’t suck [...]," it's true! This is shoegaze that does not suck.
Levels of the Game is an all-timer. I have another Racket to recommend, "The Racket: On Tour with Tennis’s Golden Generation – and the other 99%" by Conor Niland. Niland is Ireland's most successful tennis player, and its an account of him trying to climb the rankings. Grim, intense, but funny like Agassi's Open.
Seconded on that book rec. I appreciated how Niland admitted he had almost no chance of staying on tour as long as he did without his parents and their financial support. One of the things that turns my stomach about the current crop of pros is how many of them are rich kids who only lasted this long because they could have a singular focus.
I for one, appreciate the inclusion of tennis in the post. This is the first year I haven’t gone in person to Indian Wells. And I’m too cheap to pay for the tennis channel. So I’ve been listening to play-by-play on YouTube. And watching the highlights later. Like the epic match between Djokovic and Draper.
Also, if you hadn’t mentioned tennis, I might not know about the book that Jared recommended in the comments.
I’ll check out the music recommendations later today, but wanted to encourage more tennis tidbits in the future.
I will second Jared's recommendation of Niland's The Racket. I will humbly request you keep talking about tennis, though. As someone who spends all his time either listening to indie rock or watching and playing tennis, I would love my niche interest catered to
"While I promise there will be less of that in this newsletter going forward, sometimes it’s nice to fully dive into a totally different rabbit hole."
I appreciate the diversion(s)! All part of the No expectations ride. We contain multitudes. :)
Man two comments in one day! I am just getting home from Indian Wells. It really is tennis paradise. You gotta make the trip sometime!
Loving Symbol Soup - thanks for doing some tour poster research!
Great that you're shedding light on Doll Spirit. We great to see Kati here in Philly hop on stage w/ Florry when they played a couple weeks ago. And Natalie Jane Hill is a new-to-me-stunner (and great to see Scott of Dr. Dog's hands a bit in the mix).
I, for one, can’t wait until this is a weekly tennis write up with a side of indie music recommendations.
A belated thank you for introducing me to Pileup. Although I laughed when I read "RIYL: Shoegaze that doesn’t suck [...]," it's true! This is shoegaze that does not suck.