Civility is not a sign of weakness.

Today's Tids Issue 4,204

For caring:

Some of you may remember when the pugnacious Leo Durocher said, “Nice guys finish last”? I set as my goal to prove him wrong.

The Waste Management Corporation is not in the diet business.

The tentative Mexico trade agreement was good news. It has a long way to go, and most say it will not make it through the Mexican government until Canada also is on board. Nor will it make it though our own congress until the deal is fully explained…or if it looks like a vote getter in the mid-terms.

Trump may have lost a part of his base over the way he handled the McCain passing.

Some days are just too hot to eat Cheetos, or Cheeto pretenders.

The Question:

Which Men and Women have won the most US Open tennis titles. Bonus: In which cities since its beginning in 1881 has the US Open been held before settling into the current US “Billie Jean King” National Tennis Center?

The Headlines:

--Markets Look To Continue Positive Path.

--Trump Backs Off And Does What He Should Have Done Automatically – Lower the Flag To Half Mast; President Issues Less Than Enthusiastic Word About McClain.

--NK Tells US That De-Nuke Talks In Danger Of Falling Apart If Pompeo Doesn’t Show.

--In Mourning, Arizonians will Go To The Polls Today To Pick McCain’s Successor; Florida Primaries Also On Minds Of Political Junkies.

--Tesla Company Still Confused.

--AGT Judge Mel B To Check Into Rehab For Alcohol And Sex Addiction, and PTSD; She is Expected To Disappear After Current Season (That’s odd).

--US To Pay Farmers $4.7 Bil In Tariff Aid.

--Chicago Pension Deficit At $28 Billion.

--Number One Seed Simona Halep Is First To Lose Opening Match At US Tennis Open In Fifty Years.

--Newport Grand Slots Casino Closing; Operation Will Reopen Up The Road At New Full Casino Operation In Tiverton.

There’s a big difference between toughness and meanness.

The Mexican-US Trade deal includes a $16 Minimum wage for autoworkers. It’s hard to see the left going along with anything Trump, even if it is something they want badly. Life in the USA has become less about results and more about who gets the credit.

One of my on-going dilemmas is, If I write the Tids too fast, what do I do for the rest of the day?

Isn’t blackmail a crime? Hasn’t blackmail become the main tool of political opposition? Are local, state national elections a criminal act?

Some are saying we should sell our houses now, rent, and then buy when the house prices inevitably drop in the not too distant future.

I probably wouldn’t have to go to my eye doctor as often if I just washed my glasses.

It’s easier to see, feel and find a deal walking into brick and mortar stores as opposed to searching the Amazon. Lots of institutions make a comeback after the people figure about what’s going on with interlopers. When everything is reconciled, balance takes over.

If you are heading to Siberia, a stopover in Mongolia is a steppe in the right direction.

Irony Department: The three Repub candidates in the Arizona primary for the seat that was McCain’s had all distanced themselves from the former war hero, to the point of a couple openly attacking him. But, now in the wake of is death and subsequent national mourning, words of praise are the norm. Martha McSally is the endorsed candidate and has been reluctant to associate herself with the now deceased Senator. The other two, super conservatives Kelly Ward and trump pardoned Sherriff Joe Arpaio, continually attacked the popular politician. So, I have to think that today there is a bit of confusion in the minds of voters as they go to the polls.

The other big primaries are in Florida with too many significant races occurring, both between Dems and Repubs, to properly critique in a mere Tidlet. Of greater interest is the decline in Dem registrations which many say is significant in the days following the Parkland horror. Also of interest in Florida, is the apparent weakness of incumbent Senator Bill Nelson. He is running behind Repub Rick Scott in polls, looking scared, at least that’s what independent observers are saying. That race is one of the keys to Repubs holding or expanding their grip on the the Senate.

Missouri just announced it is definition of the word “meat”. Products grown in labs or from plant basis cannot use the word meat in their discretions. In other words, if it wasn’t walking before harvesting, it isn’t meat.

By the way, most cases of food poisoning in chain restaurants have come from lettuce. Eat meat.

The Answer:

Richard Sears was dominant in winning the first 7 titles, a number only matched by William Larned and Bill Tilden. Jimmy Connors won 5 as did Pete Sampras and Roger Federer. At 4 we have John McEnroe and Robert Wrenn. 3 Timers were Oliver Campbell, Ivan Lendl, Raphael Nadal, Fred Perry and Malcom Whitman. 22 players won 2 titles including the infamous Bobby Riggs. Women began playing in 1887. The all time leader in both men’s and women’s is Molla Bjurstedt Mallory (US/Norway) with 8. The incomparable Helen Wills Moody won 7. With six wins are Chris Evert and Serena Williams. Margaret Court won five as did Steffi Graf. In the 4 column is Elizabeth Moore, Halen Jacobs Alice Marble, Pauline Betz Addie, Maria Bueno, King, and Martina Navratilova. Ten three’s were Juliette Atkinson, Mary Browne, Margaret Osbourne, The wonderful Maureen Conolly and Kim Clijsters.  There were 11 at 2, including the amazing Althea Gibson. Bonus: The first tournaments were played in Newport RI (Home of Tennis Hall of Fame) from 1881 to 1914. It moved to Forest Hills NY from 1915 to 1920, and then to Philadelphia from 1921 to 1923. It moved back to Forest hills from 1924 t0 1977, before settling into its current location 1978.

Little “Mo”, Maureen Connelly, was a wizard on the court, one of my favorite athletes of the day. I believe she captivated the entire sports world, surely our nation, like no other athlete having won 3 US open titles (1951-1953) and a single year Grand Slam before she was 19 years old. A horse-riding accident stopped her career after her 3^rd Open title. Just like that. Sad. In winning her Grand Slam, she only lost one set. Who knows how many records she may have set. Her nickname “Little Mo”, was coined by sportswriter Nelson Fisher of San Diego who compared the power of her forehand and backhand to the firepower of the USS Missouri – “Big Mo”. Maybe they should have named the Tennis Center after her.

She is one of those winners I have never forgotten.

Is winning at the cost of losing dignity really success at all?