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Guys,
At my request, Tom Brown's long term partner Lee Tyler sent me this tribute about the great San Franciscan and American player Tom Brown who died in 2011. If you haven't read the excerpts from his book in the history section, they are a must. Here is the first one:
The tribute starts with a poem from his doubles partner, another famous pre-open era American player, Gardner Malloy. There is some info on Tom and his generation at the bottom.
I played doubles against Tom at Golden Gate Park in the 1980s. He was a great guy with a competitive streak you could feel, and a gentleman who was welcoming of a new kid at the courts.
John Yandell
Hail to Tom Brown
by Gardnar Mulloy
As a friend he was the best
and he has finally come to rest.
On the tennis court he was great
and losing to him was always your fate.
In our tennis encounters we hated each other
but on the court we were brothers.
Tom was as rough and gruff as a bear
but honest - and you knew he was coming, and from where.
He was loose as a goose but twice as shifty
and ran like a deer almost as swifty.
We played Wimbledon and Davis Cup together -
all over the world, in all kinds of weather
arguing who was the best
which now has been put to rest.
His serve may not be the greatest but it got him to the net
before his opponents could get set.
Tom's speed of foot is legendary and it's often been said
he would run past his serve going to the net
and the ball would hit him on the back of his head.
So,Tom, put in a good word to St.Peter for me -
as someday with you I'd like to be.
P.S. I hope you'll forgive my Wimbledon drop shot
that caused us to lose the winner's spot.
Goodbye Tom - I'll see you soon
Before many moons.
-- Gar
The above poem was written for Tom Brown and read by Tom's son, Mark,at a memorial gathering held at the CaliforniaTennis Club in San Francisco1/17/2012.
What Mulloy is referring to in the last verse was the big chance he and Tom, playing as partners in the Wimbledon mens' final of 1948,had to win over the Australian team of Frank Sedgman and John Bromwich. But Gar miffed with a dink shot at a crucial point instead of a smash , which Sedgman gleefully raced to and put away.
Tom and Gar were longtime friends, foes and competitors, having met in1942 whenTom, then 19 and playing in his first nationals (now the US Open), came up against Mulloy in the round of 16.Tom lost, but it was a close 5-setter and the near-win earned Tom his first national ranking -- #16. (Gar was then #5). They were both in the first Davis Cup challenge
played after World War II in Australia. All those team members,except Gardnar,are gone now -- Billy Talbert, Jack Kramer,Ted Schroeder,Frank Parker, and Tom, who died 10/27/2011 at the age of 89.
Gardnar hangs on at age 99, living at home with his second wife , Jacqueline, in Miami, Florida.
There is a lot about Gardnar in Tom's book,"As Tom Goes By", published when Tom was 85.
At my request, Tom Brown's long term partner Lee Tyler sent me this tribute about the great San Franciscan and American player Tom Brown who died in 2011. If you haven't read the excerpts from his book in the history section, they are a must. Here is the first one:
The tribute starts with a poem from his doubles partner, another famous pre-open era American player, Gardner Malloy. There is some info on Tom and his generation at the bottom.
I played doubles against Tom at Golden Gate Park in the 1980s. He was a great guy with a competitive streak you could feel, and a gentleman who was welcoming of a new kid at the courts.
John Yandell
Hail to Tom Brown
by Gardnar Mulloy
As a friend he was the best
and he has finally come to rest.
On the tennis court he was great
and losing to him was always your fate.
In our tennis encounters we hated each other
but on the court we were brothers.
Tom was as rough and gruff as a bear
but honest - and you knew he was coming, and from where.
He was loose as a goose but twice as shifty
and ran like a deer almost as swifty.
We played Wimbledon and Davis Cup together -
all over the world, in all kinds of weather
arguing who was the best
which now has been put to rest.
His serve may not be the greatest but it got him to the net
before his opponents could get set.
Tom's speed of foot is legendary and it's often been said
he would run past his serve going to the net
and the ball would hit him on the back of his head.
So,Tom, put in a good word to St.Peter for me -
as someday with you I'd like to be.
P.S. I hope you'll forgive my Wimbledon drop shot
that caused us to lose the winner's spot.
Goodbye Tom - I'll see you soon
Before many moons.
-- Gar
The above poem was written for Tom Brown and read by Tom's son, Mark,at a memorial gathering held at the CaliforniaTennis Club in San Francisco1/17/2012.
What Mulloy is referring to in the last verse was the big chance he and Tom, playing as partners in the Wimbledon mens' final of 1948,had to win over the Australian team of Frank Sedgman and John Bromwich. But Gar miffed with a dink shot at a crucial point instead of a smash , which Sedgman gleefully raced to and put away.
Tom and Gar were longtime friends, foes and competitors, having met in1942 whenTom, then 19 and playing in his first nationals (now the US Open), came up against Mulloy in the round of 16.Tom lost, but it was a close 5-setter and the near-win earned Tom his first national ranking -- #16. (Gar was then #5). They were both in the first Davis Cup challenge
played after World War II in Australia. All those team members,except Gardnar,are gone now -- Billy Talbert, Jack Kramer,Ted Schroeder,Frank Parker, and Tom, who died 10/27/2011 at the age of 89.
Gardnar hangs on at age 99, living at home with his second wife , Jacqueline, in Miami, Florida.
There is a lot about Gardnar in Tom's book,"As Tom Goes By", published when Tom was 85.
He certainly worked at building his game. I am intrigued he could play in a temper - stubborn people sometimes have this quality - ...they just put their head down and play, become blinkered. Was Tom like this, Lee?
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