Briefs | Patrick McEnroe becomes a force in tennis
Tennis
U.S. Davis Cup captain is quieter than older brother John: The caption for a 1971 Tennis USA group photo identifies John McEnroe as the nation’s seventh-ranked 12-year-old and “at right, younger brother, Patrick, 5.”
“He was already my younger brother at that time,” John said with a bit of amazement, considering how much that label amplified in the years to come.
For better or worse, Patrick has labored in the illustrious shadow of his oldest sibling, John, a seven-time Grand Slam champion and personality few can match. “From his junior days, Patrick got more attention from being John’s brother,” said their father, John McEnroe Sr. “He had to deal with that issue all along. I think he’s done it very, very successfully.”
When the United States plays defending champion Russia from Friday to Sunday in Portland, Patrick McEnroe has a chance to claim one title his brother cannot - captaincy of a Davis Cup title team.
“It would be a huge thing for us,” said Patrick McEnroe, referring to sixth-ranked Andy Roddick, No. 13 James Blake and the top-ranked doubles duo of Bob and Mike Bryan.
With his gifts for backroom politicking and restrained on-court nurturing - and patience, hard work and perseverance - McEnroe, 41, has carved out a notable niche in his seven years as Davis Cup captain. His brother (who played on five title-winning U.S. teams) spent one stormy year at the helm in 2000, which ended in a 5-0 semifinal loss to Spain after he could not convince the best U.S. players to show up.
Few wear as many hats as Patrick McEnroe, whose roles beyond Davis Cup include ESPN tennis commentator, occasional radio and TV talk-show host, husband and father.
ITF officials say there is no evidence Haas was poisoned: There is no evidence to substantiate allegations German player Tommy Haas was poisoned before a Davis Cup match against Russia, International Tennis Federation officials said.
Haas pulled out before his match against Mikhail Youzhny with a suspected stomach virus, and Russia won both reverse singles matches in Moscow on Sept. 23 to beat Germany 3-2 and reach the Davis Cup final against the United States.
German teammate Alexander Waske later said he was told by a Russian who manages numerous athletes that it was poisoning, not a virus.
Olympics
Flame in London might be fueled by rotting plants: The 2012 London Games could feature a low-carbon Olympic flame fueled by rotting plants.
“The Olympic flame is potentially quite an energy consumer,” said David Stubbs, London 2012’s environment project manager
London organizers released a sustainability plan for reducing the carbon footprint of the 2012 Games and making them the “greenest” ever. Natural gas normally fuels the flame, which is lit constantly during the Olympics and subsequent Paralympics and is most commonly fueled by methane.
Auto racing
Labonte gets new crew chief: Hendrick Motorsports driver Jeff Gordon lost his car chief when Jeff Meendering, 30, joined Petty Enterprises as crew chief for Bobby Labonte.
“The opportunity to lead a team with the winning tradition of the 43 car, and work for a legend in Richard Petty, felt like the perfect fit,” Meendering said.
Soccer
Paez resigns: Richard Paez, 54, resigned as Venezuela’s coach, saying he does not want to be an obstacle in his country’s attempt to qualify for its first World Cup.
Venezuela is in fifth place in South American World Cup qualifying. Four, and possibly five, teams will advance.
Track and field
McKenley dies at 85: Herb McKenley, a Jamaican track legend, died at the University Hospital of the West Indies. He was 85.
McKenley was a member of Jamaica’s 1,600-meter-relay team that won the Olympic gold medal in 1952. He earned silver medals in the 100 meters (1952) and in the 400 (1948).
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