The Celebration

We tracked them down. Five probable venues were on some list one of the NetHeads got from someone who worked somewhere in Portland, or so the story goes.

So three of the NetHeads, Job and I put up with the rain and the lines and visited each venue until we found them celebrating at McFadden's.

Andy Roddick, James Blake, Bob Bryan, Mike Bryan, Patrick McEnroe, Robbie Ginepri, Mardy Fish, John Isner, Donald Young, Thomas Blake, Dean Goldfarb, John Roddick, Stan Smith's son, whose first name escapes me at the moment, Brian Barker, agents, managers, girlfriends and others were all there, mixed in with a laughing, drunken crowd, dancing till all hours.

My cell phone battery died. But by the time we found them, it was too late to let anybody know where the party was.

I met many of the players and was humbled by how approachable and sincere they all were.

Close up, all of them are taller and thinner in person than they appear on television or even from the stands.

Andy was still crying. At one point, he said something to James and they shared a teary moment in the middle of the dance floor. Bob left early. Apparently he'll be playing the first reverse singles match later today.

What a day. What a great day.

















Special thanks to Job for taking all these photos.