Red Clay Sole

Not shot in Portland, Seattle, or Vancouver

Roland Garros is in full swing. At the time of my writing this, there are still a few North Americans left in the tournament. My fearless prediction - not to be confused with a lack of patriotism - is that no American will advance to the finals this year - men's or women's. I have history on my side. No American, in Men's Singles, has won since Agassi in 1999; and no American, in Women's Singles, has won since Serena Williams in 2002. You can't really blame us.  How many clay courts do you see in your typical North American city or suburb? Here in Cascadia, I can't think of many - besides the three at the Seattle Tennis Club - and they are not accessible to the average Joe or Josephina.

Seattle Tennis Club

You either have red clay in your soul or you don't.  We don't and here's why.  Clay courts are slower than hard courts, making it harder to hit "winners."  Americans like instant gratification; we like things fast. Clay courts require more maintenance than hard courts.  Americans are a "fix it and forget it" lot; maintenance is a fixed expense few cities or schools want. And most importantly, clay courts are "dirty" and will render our new white canvas Tretorns a rust-colored mess. And we just can't have that!

Tretorn ankle ligament

Preps wear and wore Tretorns now and back then.  Cascadian preps wear them now, as well, during the three weeks of Cascadian Summer. Yet, its canvas construction offers little in the way of protection from rain, mud, and Trust Fund Hippies.

The author's Nylite Canvas Tretorns

I'm not sure why Tretorn is preppy, other than its association with tennis and Sweden - perhaps that is enough. My dear mom wore them in the 80s and a prep she is not. I wear them now after an article in Tennis Magazine last year referenced them. The Nylite Canvas is the style to wear and was the style most commonly seen on the prepster from days gone by.

As far a functional "tennis shoe" goes, just try them during your next doubles match and you will retire faster than a bitter office clerk who just won the lottery. They stink as a tennis shoe. One reach for that passing shot down the alley and you are on your back, looking up at the court lights. 

I wear them sockless as a knock-around shoe and as a boat shoe. When I do, they rarely get a look of recognition - not even from the 40s set who are downtown for the weekend getting their urbane urban  groove on at the new exhibit opening. You would think my Tretorns belong in the exhibit, too. WTF?!



pinched from Tretorn.com



Eddie Bauer - What happened?

"Miga" - This ol' girl comes from the same lines as Eddie Bauer's Labrador Retrievers of the 1930's. I'm talking the real Eddie Bauer, not the failed/failing clothing store chain.

Miga at 11 years old

Long before there were Eddie Bauer retail stores, outlet stores, and catalogs, there was an actual Eddie Bauer. Eddie was a true Pacific Northwest sportsman and outdoorsman.  He started out making tennis rackets in Seattle, Washington and then moved on to make functional outdoor clothing (reportedly because he froze his keister off while fishing in the Cascade Mountains). Function led fashion then, as it should now; but fashion (or appearance) was a key element. "Prep" is supposed to be authentic, not contrived. Cascadian prep should be no different. Eddie got this concept.

Labs were bred for the water and all kinds of weather; one can see it in their build, their hair, and their feet. They're also a great looking dog! Function leads fashion.

Eddie, if you can hear me now... follow your lines back to their origin and see where they lead you. This time, don't sell out and don't mess with the original formula.