Mr. Ed is...The Line Judge (October 26, 2002)
by Ed Zafian
While it was
tempting to go with Boris Becker's near trip to the slammer on tax evasion
charges, this week's "The Line Judge" takes a look at the latest news regarding
Tim Henman, Jelena Dokic, and Lleyton Hewitt.
Congratulations to Tim and Lucy Henman on the birth of their first child,
Rose Elizabeth, on October 19th. The 28-year old Brit said he "absolutely
delighted" and perhaps a bit wary of the infamous British tabloids added
the couple would be "very grateful if our privacy is respected at this
special time." The Henmans released a family photo on Henman's
official website -- timhenman.org. Henman will not have much time to
enjoy his new daughter as he is still in a heated battle to secure one of
the final spots for the Tennis Masters Cup. The new father hopes to
buoy his chances this week in Basel, an event he has reached the final of
three of the past four years.
Ah, the Dokic family! Perhaps this dysfunctional family could get
their own reality television series to rival "The Osbournes." Another
chapter in the family saga was recently added when Damir Dokic was banned
from the player area from this week's WTA stop in Linz. You say, what's
new about that? Well, this time around the banishment of both Damir
and Liliana Dokic came at the hands of Jelena Dokic herself! Apparently
their was a squabble between her parents and Jelena's current boyfriend,
Formula One race driver Enrique Bernoldi at the previous week's tournament
in Filderstadt. The Linz tournament director stated: "We have
had information from the WTA that we cannot give Jelena's parents access passes."
Whether the 19-year-old Yugoslav-Australian (soon to be Brit?) is finally
coming to her senses regarding her controversial father remains to be seen.
Dokic who has already played 27 tournaments this year has stated that
she is cutting back her schedule next year and will once again skip the entire
Australian leg of the Tour in 2003.
Seemingly just weeks ago, it appeared the Lleyton Hewitt had the year-end
#1 ranking locked up. But with shaky results of late and a charge
by Andre Agassi, the Australian's hold on the top spot appears to be in
some serious jeopardy. Good thing Hewitt has a fascintating new advertisement
deal! Are you sitting down? It was recently announced that
the Aussie just finished filming a new commerical for Sorbent toilet paper.
Apparently, Hewitt has been looking to expand his endorsement deals
and maybe this was an offer just too good to .... ahem... "pass" up. The
ad will air on prime-time television next year on Australian television.
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