Portable Tennis Partner

SkyMed Takes You Home
As someone who spends a lot of time on the road, and works with families who do the same, I ask this often:

What would you do if you or a loved experienced a medical emergency, at home or while traveling?

Most people assume their health insurance or Medicare has them fully covered.

SkyMed isn’t about expecting something bad to happen. It’s about having a plan in place, just in case.

Emergencies don’t ask where you are.
They don’t wait for convenience.
They don’t check your calendar.

They just happen.

The real question is:
Do you have a plan in place?

For more information contact Rob Krajicek
Cell: 813-997-2377 [email protected]

NEW: For a brief couple minute video about what SkyMed does, click on the link below:
https://youtu.be/Q7m1GeeDOBE

NEW: Go to the hotlink below to go directly to SkyMed's best discounted pricing AND self complete application

https://gateway.skymed.com/customer/event-plans?eventId=f0f8297b-1a17-476f-9c71-37ed5dedf76a

Event Plans Hospital-to-Hospital​ Emergency Air Transport Hospital-to-Hospital​ Emergency Air Transport "By Choice of the Member" means EVEN if you can be treated in the emergency facility you are in, SkyMed will Take You Home if you choose. SkyMed will arrange and pay for medically equipped air ambulance t...

If you would like to hear the story of Austin Krajicek's tennis life and experiences, in a podcast format, this is it. It is very informative, fun and entertaining.
Steve Smith knows and has been in Austin's court (literally and figuratively) for 25+ years. He has been Austin's coach and remains a mentor.
He is/has also been a good friend of both Sherry and myself for all those years as well. He knows what we have been through.
It is about two hours long, but goes by quickly. By the end you will know what the Krajiceks have been up to for the last 25 years.
Enjoy...

The GreatBase Tennis Podcast Episode 108 - Austin Krajicek Interview

On the 108th episode of the GreatBase Tennis (GBT) podcast, Steve Smith and Austin Krajicek have a tennis conversation. The two have known each other for twenty-five years.

A couple of weeks before Austin turned 8 years old, Steve produced a narrated slow-motion analysis for Austin and his parents (Rob and Sherry). Austin was on his way to a national event (Little Mo). Steve suggested that the family wait until they return from the tournament for Austin to begin the process of re-building his technical base.

To make an understatement, Austin has an extremely impressive resume. He is a Kalamazoo (US national 18's) champion, a six time All-American, a member of the Texas A & M Hall of Fame and a US Olympian. In singles, Austin earned a top 100 ranking. In doubles, he currently is ranked 15 in the world. Most recently, he and his partner (Ivan Dodig) reached the French Open finals.

We are confident that our audience will thoroughly enjoy listening to this podcast. Austin certainly knows his way around the tennis world and has an abundance of tennis and life experiences to share.

Listen: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/austin-krajicek-interview/id1528267426?i=1000578669568

Watch: https://youtu.be/mUq202megiA

GreatBase Tennis
EDUCATION

Steve Smith promotes the PORTABLE TENNIS PARTNER.

To get yours visit PortableTennisPartner.com or contact Andrew at [email protected]

Tennissmith's Great Base Backboard Portable tennis backboard Great Base Backboard www.tennissmith.com

A Race & An Interview

Video #1 is thirty plus seconds and video # 2 is thirty plus minutes.

#1) Who wins the race between the tortoise and the hare? The rabbit goes in circles and loses. The turtle goes the way we have to go in life, inch by inch, and wins. Life by the yard is hard. Life by the inch it's still not a cinch, but it's way better. Getting where you want to go is one step at a time and the first step should be taken when everybody else is still in bed.

#2) It is a lesson when parents and teachers ask the question about the race between the fast rabbit and the slow turtle. Charlie Rose's interview with Michael Phelps and Coach K is also a lesson about winning, many important messages are shared.

Steve Smith....great base.....
TENNIS

Video #1 Race: https://youtu.be/Huhs0jBds6Y

Video #2 Interview: https://charlierose.com/videos/29280

Russell Seymour & South African Tennis
Connections & Transformational Experiences

Russell Seymour, at the age of 86, is still winning tennis matches. The classy, soft-spoken gentleman from South Africa still loves to compete. We recently crossed paths, and I asked him how many gold balls he was up to? He responded, "Seventy-nine, but I should have more because I have found a way to lose in the finals 49 times."

Every time one wins a USTA national title, he/she is honored with a gold ball. The runner-up wins a silver ball. Congrats, Russell, that's a lot of finals.

In 1948, as a junior he was the South African junior champion. Seven years later he won the South African Open, and between 1953-55 he was a member of his country's Davis Cup team. Russell has some stories to tell. For starters, he played Lew Hoad at Wimbledon and Ken Rosewall at Queens.

Russell and I both lived in Tyler, Texas, in the 80's. He moved to town to direct one of the local country clubs. I remember him calling me and asking to meet. He had seen some of my students on-court and complimented me on their standard of play. He had two requests. He wanted to send me beginning players from his country club who were serious about their tennis, and he wanted to give my players playing lessons. It was a win-win situation.

Unfortunately our working relationship in Tyler was short lived. Russell had to return to Johannesburg, where the medical costs were lower for him to fight cancer. He won that battle.

Upon recovering, he was named director of South African Tennis. Together we created another win-win situation. He sent top junior prospects from his homeland to be coached by us in Texas. Among the small group of players were John-Laffnie de Jager and Jeff Coetzee. Both went on to have significant roles with SA's Davis Cup squad.

Another South African, deservingly, benefited from the arrangement. Craig Tiley, one of the hardest workers in tennis, spent more than a half-dozen years in Tyler, Texas. He started as a student at Tyler Junior College, where I directed a comprehensive curriculum and degree plan for tennis teachers. Our connection with Russell created a connection for Tiley that eventually led to him serving as South Africa's Davis Cup Captain. Tiley once had the goal of leading South African Tennis but is now leading tennis in Australia; he is the CEO of Tennis Australia.

The new CEO of South African Tennis is Richard Glover. On the attached tape, Richard says he has been doing some homework for his new position. Part of his research should be knowing the work of one of his predecessors, Russell Seymour. He should talk to Raven Klaasen, one of his country's marquee players. Raven, like Tiley, was taught to teach and has a wealth of information we now call the "Great Base." Raven rebuilt his game under my tutelage between the ages of seventeen to twenty-two.

Additionally, Mr. Glover should talk to Petrus Koekemoer. Petrus, unlike Raven, is not traveling the world playing tennis. He is living and teaching in South Africa. He has done the hard yards and has an in-depth, thorough understanding of our Great Base curriculum.

The Great Base is a lifetime of work connected with other lifetimes of work. It is a system based on systems. Mr. Glover would be wise, like Australia, to have a fact-based instructional program that is designed for long-term development.

Attached are two more video tapes that should enlighten Richard Glover. Connections are needed to transform a tennis culture. Information is needed to educate coaches and to accelerate the development of players. A group, "South Africans for South African Tennis," needs to be established. I am confident that if Mr. Glover and his organization embrace the Great Base project they would be able raise much-needed money from outside SA.

I hope this post intrigues the new SA tennis leader and he follows up. The recommended connection would prove to be one of his best decisions.

Thanks for sharing, especially with South Africans.

Steve Smith....great base......
TENNIS

1) Richard Glover, CEO, South African: Tennis Interview.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OtO73fF98xo

2) Craig Tiley, CEO, Australian Tennis: Tennis teaching tape.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ML2wXBzHDs

3) Raven Klaasen, ATP, Top Ten Doubles Player: Tennis teaching tape.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7OjsfHAKjh4