Marcel Granollers (left) and Roger Federer leave the court at the U.S. Open in Flushing, N.Y., last August. Commentator Frank Deford says with all that baggage, tennis needs caddies. Leslie Billman/Ai Wire/Landov hide caption
Sweetness And Light Frank Deford's weekly commentary on sports appears Wednesdays on NPR.org.
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American tennis champion Arthur Robert Ashe Jr. (1943 - 1993) was the first black player to win a major men's tennis tournament in 1985. Keystone/Getty Images hide caption
Serena Williams serves the ball to Andrea Hlavackova during the first round of the French Open in Paris. Christophe Ena/AP hide caption
Patriots quarterback Tom Brady walks to the sideline during this year's Super Bowl against the Seattle Seahawks. Christian Petersen/Getty Images hide caption
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady gestures during an event at Salem State University in Salem, Mass. on May 7, 2015. An NFL investigation has found that New England Patriots employees likely deflated footballs and Brady was "at least generally aware" of the rules violations. Now, he faces a four-game suspension and the Patriots a $1 million fine. Charles Krupa/AP hide caption
Derek Jeter attends the launch party for his new website, The Players' Tribune, on Feb. 14 in New York City. The site is a platform for athletes to talk directly to fans. Timothy Hiatt/Getty Images hide caption
Athletes Want To Talk To Fans Without Meddlesome Sports Journalists
The MGM Grand marquee is reflected in an escalator with advertising for the Mayweather Pacquiao fight, which will take place Saturday in Las Vegas. John Locher/AP hide caption
Decathlon gold medalist Bruce Jenner throws the javelin during an Olympic competition in Montreal on July 30, 1976. AP hide caption
Texas Rangers relief pitcher Lisalverto Bonilla throws during the fifth inning of a spring training baseball game against the Kansas City Royals on March 4, in Surprise, Ariz. He is scheduled to undergo Tommy John surgery this week. Charlie Riedel/AP hide caption
New York Red Bulls defender Chris Duvall (third from left) reacts toward the crowd after teammate Lloyd Sam scores during an MLS soccer game against D.C. United on March 22 in Harrison, N.J. The Red Bulls won 2-0. John Minchillo/AP hide caption
"Hot Rod" Hundley (right) does postgame commentary with Ron Boone after the Utah Jazz-Seattle SuperSonics game on May 5, 2000, in Salt Lake City. Douglas C. Pizac/AP hide caption
San Francisco 49ers linebacker Chris Borland, center, during an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif. Borland announced that he will retire after just one season to protect himself from brain injuries. Marcio Jose Sanchez/AP hide caption
Arizona State fans showcase their Curtain of Distraction during a game against UCLA on Feb. 18 in Tempe, Ariz. Rick Scuteri/AP hide caption
Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim, right, speaks with an official during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Duke in Durham, N.C., on Feb. 28 Gerry Broome/AP hide caption
Deford: NCAA Fans Continue To Drink Deeply Of The (Sports) Spirits
New York Yankee Alex Rodriguez watches from the dugout during an intrasquad game at a spring training baseball workout Monday in Tampa, Fla. Lynne Sladky/AP hide caption