Samprasfanz

June 16, 2011 – Pete Sampras seemingly has little in common with Dirk Nowitzki. But at about the time Sampras began carving out a legacy as one of the greatest tennis players of all time in the early 1990s, Nowitzki was winning junior tennis tournaments in his native Germany. Nowitzki eventually switched to basketball and won his first NBA title Sunday night with the Dallas Mavericks. Sampras, a Los Angeles resident who can often be seen at Staples Center watching the Lakers, said he appreciated something else about the way Nowitzki finally won his ring. “You know, I just like to see good basketball,” Sampras said in a phone interview. “I don’t have any preference for one team over another. You’re just happy for Nowitzki. He’s sort of a humble guy, and obviously … Read entire article »

Pete Sampras ruled Wimbledon. He won at the All England Club seven times, the most titles in more than a century, overpowering opponents with his devastating serve. Tennis, perhaps, has never seen a better second delivery. So who better to discuss this year’s tournament than Sampras, overall a 14-time Grand Slam champion and still a keen follower of the game? In a telephone interview with ESPN.com, Sampras labeled buddy Roger Federer as the “slight” favorite at tennis’ beloved grass-court major, ahead of world No. 1 Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic. Federer is “oozing with confidence” after reaching the French Open final, Sampras said. Sampras praised Nadal, calling him a “machine” who surfaces “once every 25 years,” but cautioned the Spaniard about his workload. He suggested Djokovic, owner of a recent 43-match winning streak, … Read entire article »