Tennis on Hold

9-11. Black Tuesday. The day America was changed forever. Our thoughts and prayers go out to those who lost friends, co-workers and loved ones. We are all somehow touched by this horrendous tragedy and will be forever effected by it.

A gross act of terrorism has been committed against the American people. The United States is in the midst of a crisis and on the verge of war, possibly WWIII. The most important thing we can all do now is to be with friends and family, and help those in need. This is a time to re-evaluate what's important to you in your every day life, and to make each moment count because there are no guarantees. Somehow, the problems you were facing at work or on the tennis court last week have become completely insignificant compared to the tragedies that have occurred.

What does all this have to do with tennis? Well, not really anything related to the game, but everything about it's people. Professional players have been stranded at different locations due to the grounding of air traffic. The women's tour, playing an inaugural event in Hawaii, cancelled the day of matches. The USTA is requesting that the opening round Davis Cup tie with India be postponed due to the terrorist attacks. Many local tournament and league activities have been cancelled or postponed.

Tennis is an international sport played across the world. Our opponents are of different nationalities and ethnic backgrounds. We play because of one thing in common - we love the sport of tennis. We have occasional questions about line calls, but when the game is over, we shake hands at net with respect for each other. The world could take a cue from our great sport and the people who play it.

Most tennis players can't even think about tennis at a time like this. What's the point? We need to spend time with our families and help those who are less fortunate. Our thoughts and prayers go out to everyone in the Northeastern United States who is personally touched by this tragedy.

There have been great stories of heroism and smaller acts of kindness displayed during the hours and days following the attack. America is made up of diverse people who have come together in this time of need. Get involved. Those who are able should volunteer, donate, give blood and help wherever they can.

When it's all over and the dust has settled, we will continue to be saddened by the numbers of innocent people who lost their lives. The financial markets will likely take a big hit. Air travel will be inconvenient in coming weeks and months, to say the least.

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