As far as Mark Baladad is concerned, he is in favor of anything that promotes the game of tennis. Anything, that is, within reason. Trying to promote the game by selling T-shirts with the slogan “Tennis sucks,” however, isn’t within reason.
“I really don’t care for it,” the assistant tennis coach at state champion Deerfield High School said about Nike’s controversial new line of tennis clothes. “I understand what they’re trying to do, but I think they may have gone too far.”
“It’s very tongue in cheek,” counters Niketown’s Leslie Grove. “Tennis has been looked at as a conservative country club sport and this is a new bold and aggressive line.”
The T-shirts have been linked with the current Nike wardrobe being worn by Andre Agassi, the former tour sideshow who has catapulted to the top of the rankings in the last 10 months. Although he doesn’t wear the T-shirts during his matches, Agassi was spotted wearing them during practices. And at the Michigan Avenue Niketown, the T-shirts and caps are displayed right next to the Agassi line of clothes.
Befitting his rebel style, Agassi broke out his curent threads in January at the Australian Open, where he captured his second straight Grand Slam tournament. This week he gave the ever-fashion-conscience French a look during the French Open. While his playing clothes don’t harbor any slogans, they also won’t remind anyone of the pure-white days of Rod Laver or Fred Perry.
The shirts have horizontal stripes of varying widths and a diamond-patterned collar; sort of like a TV test pattern. The shorts are, well, interesting. Picture three cans of different color dye all mixed together.
According to Nike’s Oregon-based public relations manager, Judy Campbell, the Agassi look is selling well. “People like it and want to wear it on and off the court,” she said. ” has worn radical and non-tennis clothes before and this has more of a street look.”
A look, some tennis purists believe, that might be better left out on the street.
