Bud Collins Set for a Very Special U.S. Open

In April of this year, the United States Tennis Association advised Bud Collins that it was planning to rename the Flushing Meadows press center in his honor. This week, the organization made it official. The scene of so many memorable post-game comments will soon be known as the Bud Collins U.S. Open Media Center. From the Aug. 5 USTA press release: The press center servicing the U.S. Open is located on the ground level of Arthur Ashe Stadium at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. A plaque featuring the Tennis Hall of Famer will be unveiled at a special ceremony on Sunday, September 6, in the West Media Room. Collins, his wife Anita and other members of their family are expected to attend the event. "Few people have contributed as much to the sport of tennis as Bud has," said Katrina Adams, USTA chairman of the board and president. "He is a special person, a friend and mentor to many in the industry, and one who has spread his passion for the sport in so many ways. The span of his career is breathtaking, and we are privileged to name our media center in his honor." For many Collins fans, the big question now is what pair of pants the journalist will choose for this particular day at his 62nd U.S. Open.* One colorful sample is part of a new exhibit at the International Tennis Hall of Fame in Newport, R.I. honoring the sport's journalists. And per the photo above, he wore another snazzy pair, made from cloth he bought in Zaire while covering the 1973 Ali-Forman fight, to celebrate his 86th birthday. Update (September 6): The answer to the pants question, courtesy of Newsday: Collins wore crimson and navy trousers with an aboriginal New Zealand design, and red and black striped socks coordinated with his red bow tie Sunday. On Sunday, Daily News columnist Mike Lupica also paid a nice tribute to his longtime friend and mentor: In that moment [at this year's U.S. Open], of course, there was nowhere else I wanted to be except watching one more match at the Open with Bud Collins, who helped give me a life in tennis and newspapers, from the time I was first taking dictation from him working nights at the Boston Globe. Suddenly on this day at Ashe, it was all the days I ever spent watching tennis with him, at the Open and Wimbledon and Longwood Cricket Club, and a lot of other points on the tennis map always made brighter by his talent and wit and kindness. And friendship. [Photo via: Facebook]

Fishbowl

Bud Collins Set for a Very Special U.S. Open

To his long list of honors, the legendary tennis journalist will soon get to add one more.

Richard Horgan

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Richard Horgan