the thin man-dedicated to the great bill tilden-tony hayes

[RondelayAOK]

Refined pervert. For tennis, he contributed to the redefinition of "touch".

[Tonyhayes48]

i think he is the father of the modern game as much as anyone including the great bjorn borg



[shrinkucci]

I just read Deford's book and it was a revelation--I had no idea what a monster tennis player Big Bill (who was only 6' 1") was. He was by far the best at that time. He was to tennis as Louis Armstrong was to jazz--an innovator and genius. As far as "best of all time" It's impossible to decide such a thing--too many conflicting variables between generations to take into consideration. I separate his gay issue from his playing. He suffered enough pain about it--no need to add more posthumously.

[neldar624]

Tilden was, and will always be, the greatest; when it comes to tennis, his is the name above all names.

[soclarc]

daisymocc, Nabokov holds beautiful art is our only refuge--see last words of "Lolita"--including Tilden's tennis artistry. During Humbert Humbert's and Lolita's 1940s odyssey, Lolita takes a tennis lesson from a "grizzled veteran" Humbert recognizes from the 1920s, "Ned Litam." Spell backwards. Nabokov couldn't bring himself to identify Tilden directly in his oldster quandry of the day's provincialism. Tilden in the pathos his life is a metaphor for the novel.

[leosupercluster]

great tribute for the greatest tennis player of all time.. the real father of modern tennis, the one who revolutionized this sport more than anyone else in the history.

thanks for your upload

[soclarc]

Nabokov on Tilden's tennis: "...the divine delicacy of absolute power."

Me on Nigelxman: The bovine idiocy of absolute sour.

[daisymocc12]

@soclarc beautiful comment by vladamir

[spacecowboy95]

@daisymocc12 Hi, thank you for putting up this beautiful video filled with some rare Tilden photos that I've never seen before.

Tilden was important to me because my late dad grew up idolizing him in a sense and he would pass on stories to me about his prowess. I have all of Tilden's books, I'm 24 now.

Thanks again.

[tom47usa]

Thanks for posting. Tilden was a great player and to think that he gained #1 ranking in his late 20's and held that ranking for 10 years. That's simply amazing and I doubt that any other male player will ever break that record.

Also, There is something about B& W photos that keep the historical perspective intact.

[soclarc]

@tom47usa Great comment, Tom. Happy New Year to you, as well. Keep that indoor court going! Quite a shot by Fed I sent you earlier, eh?

--Soclarc

[Nigelxman]

Nice to know you guys appreciate a child molester.

[daisymocc12]

@Nigelxman ,i think i liked him for his tennis but he was a dreadful old queen

[stirthesalad1]

Wonder which babolat racket he would be using if he was playing today

[daisymocc12]

@stirthesalad1 good question

[edgarhauster]

Great clip, excellent music. Is it available for download?

[daisymocc12]

@edgarhauster thanks ,it's yours

[neldar624]

thank you; this is a lovely tribute to the greatest to ever play the game.

[Anaconda43VR]

@neldar624 No such thing as the greatest player to play the game......he's not even a goat candidate. The guy shouldn't even be in the HOF for you know what...

[daisymocc12]

@Anaconda43VR oh well,a bit like a lot of other guys like oj simpson ,wayne carey,gary abblett etc,good point

[daisymocc12]

@neldar624 thanks

[Nick410s]

Great stuff! Thanks for posting!

[roddaveyzzz]

Billtilden, all the alltimers say he was the best

[daisymocc12]

many thanks,a lot of people don't realise he is really the father of modern tennis.

[jsouce]

Nice presentation. Thanks for posting. Tilden was really a tragic figure, and an amazing athlete, hopefully not easily forgotten. You've brought a roaring 20's figure boldly into the 21st century.