Should fans vote for Tennis Hall of Fame candidates?
All, or nearly all, members of the ITHF Voting Group have established criteria and take our mission very seriously. On the other hand, the essence of being a fan comprises hero worship and rooting passionately for one’s favourite players.
hiladelphia fans would boo a funeral.” – Bo Belinsky, baseball pitcher. “Coaches who start listening to fans wind up sitting next to them.” – Johnny Kerr, NBA coach.
“Every time he towels off, it’s like the Benny Hill show.” – Paul Annacone, on Andre Agassi’s fervent fans.
Inductees into sports halls of fame invariably say that joining the pantheon of greats is a tremendous honour and the pinnacle of their careers. These sports shrines have become so famous that they’re often referred to by their American locations: Cooperstown (baseball), Springfield (bas ketball), Canton (American football) and Newport (tennis).
As their careers wind down, many standout athletes wonder whether their feats and stats qualify for muchcoveted inclusion in a hall of fame. The media, fellow players, coaches and fans debate their records and make pro and con cases for candidates. Family, friends, endorsers and agents hope their man or woman can attract enough votes in the annual elections. Thanks to burgeoning TV coverage, the Internet and social media, fans have become more informed and more opinionated than ever. Sometimes their enthusiasm has