There are 24.7 million tennis players in the United States. If you are one of them, you are likely to see yourself and your tennis friends in this hilarious new book of tennis cartoons, anecdotes, and witty quotes. If you're not one of them, this book is the perfect gift to cheer up a tennis player who needs some laughs.
The tennis cartoons of 11 cartoonists, including Bil Keane, creator of The Family Circus, and Charles M. Schulz, creator of Peanuts, are featured in this volume.
Books have been published about the humor in other sports. But tennis?
We asked players, coaches, pros, and cartoonists: "What's the funniest thing you've experienced, seen, or heard on a tennis court?"
Vic Braden, who pioneered the use of humor in teaching and coaching tennis, was among those who contributed to this book.
But this book is also about the health benefits of tennis played with good humor. "Laughter is good medicine," says Dr. Ellen Rome, a Cleveland Clinic physician who is a tennis player herself, "and if tennis is played for fun with good humor, the health benefits are even greater."
Here's more proof that vigorous exercise and humor are powerful weapons in the never-ending battle against obesity and depression.
You'll read about the longevity of many tennis players, humorists, and comedians. And you'll be inspired by stories of tennis aficionados who play competitive amateur tennis into their 80's and 90's.
And you'll be introduced to Samra's Law: The older tennis players get, the funnier they get.
The Funny Side of Tennis is available for $8.95 plus shipping charges, from our toll-free number: 1-800-877-2757.
What they are saying about The Funny Side of Tennis
| "This book was medicine for my soul. ('A cheerful heart is a good medicine, but a downcast spirit dries up the bones.' --Proverbs 17:22)." | ||
| -- | Jim Elsman, Esq. | |
| Bloomfield Hills, Mich. (ranked No. 4 in USTA 70s doubles) | ||
| "Highly entertaining, inspirational, and very true to tennis life. I saw myself in many of the cartoons, and have given books as gifts to friends who play tennis." | ||
| -- | Dr. Bill Bateman, M.D. | |
| (Kalamazoo, Mich. family physician who still plays tennis on two artificial hips.) | ||
| "This book is terrific. It should be required reading for everyone over and under 60." | ||
| -- | Dr. Ralph Puchalski, D.D.S. | |
| Battle Creek, Mich. | ||
| "Loved it. I ordered gift copies for the tennis playing members of my family." | ||
| -- | Bobbe Lyon | |
| Maitland, Florida | ||
| "Really entertaining. It was a very enjoyable read for me, especially since I know many of the players mentioned in the book." | ||
| -- | Jack Vredevelt | |
| Kalamazoo, Mich. (former Vanderbilt and Western Michigan University tennis coach, now ranked No. 3 in the national 75's.) | ||
| "Cal Samra has collected a treasury of cartoons, anecdotes, and witty quotes that will bring a chuckle from even the non-tennis player. The book is an easy, feel-good read that definitely captures the funny side of tennis." | ||
| -- | Pam Shebest | |
| Tennis reporter The Kalamazoo Gazette | ||
About the Author
Humorist Cal Samra and his wife, Rose -- longtime tennis aficionados -- have authored ten humor/cartoon books on various topics that have sold nearly a million copies in the past decade. The Samras also have been editors of an award-winning humor newsletter for the past 23 years.
Samra is a former reporter for the Associated Press and newspapers in Michigan, New York, and New Jersey. He is the former lay executive director of the Huxley Institute, a psychiatric research foundation.
The Samras live in Portage, Michigan, with their family circus and their serene and good-natured Golden Retriever, Maize, whose favorite bumper sticker is: "My Golden Retriever is smarter than your honor student."