Serving Up a Good Cause

As the tennis season is in its final stretch, players will soon find themselves with some down time. If I was a tennis player, playing 10 months out of the year, I would want to relax, maybe even avoid the game for a little while. Besides, the tennis "off-season" is only about a month and a half long, so why not take advantage of it?

However, what I find great is that, instead of laying low, many players take the extra initiative to give back and play for something that is not a shiny trophy or an attractive paycheck - they play for charity or set up a charity event. Many tennis alums and current pros are doing it and raising a whole lot of money doing so!

I came across an article this week on ESPN.com that reported on Andre Agassi's annual charity event, "Grand Slam for Children." The event benefits the Andre Agassi College Preparatory Academy in Las Vegas that Agassi built in 2001. Agassi's academy has become one of the most well-known schools in Las Vegas, with 98% of its students being minorities and residing within a low-class two-mile radius of the school. Grades K-12 attend and are educated with the best teachers, as well as some over-the-top facilities like touch screen computers. Students have some of the highest test scores in the area and many have goals of attending some of the most accredited colleges in the country.

So how much money was raised in one night for these kids? A million? Five million, maybe? Nope. Nine million dollars! That is a ridiculous amount of money! Agassi invited some celeb buddies and casino tycoons to help him out and everyone gave back more than expected! What a great accomplishment for an even greater cause!

Agassi has contributed to many charity endeavors and other players have followed suit. Each year, Andy Roddick holds a very formal gala and celebrity-athlete exhibition match that benefits his own charity, The Andy Roddick Foundation. Guests have included Lionel Richie and Elton John and some of Roddick's closest friends and fans. Over the years, the foundation has raised over $5 million dollars to help needy children. Again, a very impressive number.

While some athletes work with great causes off the court, many use their off-time to raise some money on-court. Last March, in between a lull period in the game, the Bryan brothers, Mardy Fish and Maria Sharapova took place in a two-day charity event in California. The Williams Sisters have taken place in a number of exhibition events and have raised hundreds of thousands in doing so. Even Anna Kournikova, who has been wiped off of the tennis planet, takes place in some events from time to time, as she knows that she can raise money. Hey, if you can do that, go for it, I say! Anything for a good cause.

So, all in all, I think the time off from the competitive, game play mindset and into the charity mindset is a great thing - for those who benefit from the money raised and for the sport of tennis. Obviously, it is great that those who need it most are getting the help they deserve. It is also great that tennis can be seen as a sport in which the ATHLETES themselves give back. I never really see much publicity about individual football players or basketball stars putting together a formal gala or a game of pick-up at a local gym to benefit charity. It would generate a lot of money, I would think. However, it is not being done.

Tennis is great model for charity and others should follow through with it. Any event can easily build hype when the big names come to a town that has no tennis tournaments nearby during the year. In turn, fans get to see their favorite players up close, in the action, and everything soon becomes focused on the fan. When you put charity back in the mix, a winning pair is made. This is a reason as to why these events are so successful. People will come out to see something that they never get to see and will be helping others at the same time - fantastic!

Props to tennis players for raising some money off the court. It only adds to the class and charm that the game constantly needs. If only other sports and athletes would see this - it would broaden the appeal of any sport and most importantly, help those who need it most. No trophy or big paycheck involved.