Bud Collins facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Bud Collins
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Collins in May 2008
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Arthur Worth Collins Jr.
June 17, 1929 Lima, Ohio, U.S.
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| Died | March 4, 2016 (aged 86) Brookline, Massachusetts, U.S.
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| Occupation | Sports columnist TV commentator |
Arthur Worth "Bud" Collins Jr. (born June 17, 1929 – died March 4, 2016) was an American journalist and TV commentator. He was most famous for talking about tennis matches. Bud Collins was married to photographer Anita Ruthling Klaussen.
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Bud Collins' Early Life and Education
Bud Collins was born in Lima, Ohio, on June 17, 1929. He grew up in Berea, Ohio, and finished Berea High School in 1947. He then went to Baldwin-Wallace College.
After serving in the United States Army, he studied at Boston University. He wanted to study journalism there. Even though he started studying earlier, he officially graduated from the College of Communications in 2009.
From 1959 to 1963, Collins was a tennis coach at Brandeis University. One of his players was Abbie Hoffman, who later became a famous activist. Collins once said that his 1959 team was the only undefeated tennis team in Brandeis history.
Career as a Journalist and Commentator
Bud Collins started writing for the Boston Herald newspaper while he was still a student at Boston University. In 1963, he moved to The Boston Globe. He also began talking about tennis on TV for WGBH, a Public Broadcasting Service station in Boston.
From 1968 to 1972, he worked for CBS Sports, covering the US Open tournament. In 1972, he joined NBC Sports to cover the Wimbledon tournament. He also worked with Donald Dell to commentate on tennis for PBS from 1974 to 1977.
Collins wrote about many different sports and teams for The Boston Globe. This included the Boston Red Sox baseball team during their exciting 1967 season. He also wrote general and political articles, and even travel stories.
In 1967, he even ran for mayor of Boston.
Moving to ESPN
During the 2007 Wimbledon tournament, NBC decided not to renew Bud Collins' contract after 35 years. However, Collins said he would not retire. He continued to cover tennis for The Boston Globe.
Many people, including fellow sportswriter Bob Ryan, thought NBC's decision was wrong. Ryan said that Collins, even at 78, was still great at his job.
On August 7, 2007, Collins was hired by ESPN. He worked with his old NBC partner, Dick Enberg. Together, they covered Wimbledon, the US Open, the French Open, and the Australian Open for ESPN2. He also covered the US Open for XM Satellite Radio.
Awards and Recognition
In 1999, Bud Collins received the Red Smith Award. This is a very important award for sportswriters in the United States.
He was also inducted into the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association Hall of Fame in 2002.
Collins is known for making the term 'Bagel' popular in tennis. This term means a set in tennis that ends with a score of 6–0. It was first used by tennis player Harold Solomon.
Playing Tennis
Even though Bud Collins called himself a "hacker" (someone not very skilled), he was actually a good tennis player. In 1961, he won the U.S. indoor mixed-doubles championship with Janet Hopps. In 1975, he was a finalist in the French senior doubles with Jack Crawford.
Other Activities and Legacy
Bud Collins wrote several books about tennis. These include The Education of a Tennis Player (with Rod Laver, 1971) and Evonne! On the Move (with Evonne Goolagong Cawley, 1974). He also wrote a book about his own life called My Life With the Pros (1989).
He also created many tennis encyclopedias, like The Modern Encyclopedia of Tennis and Total Tennis.
In 1992, Collins hosted the 116th annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show on the USA Network.
In 1994, Bud Collins was elected to the International Tennis Hall of Fame.
Collins was famous for his unique bowties and pants. These were custom-made from special fabrics he found during his travels. His pants were made by tailor Charlie Davidson in Cambridge, Massachusettts. In 2006, he appeared as himself in an episode of the TV show Psych called "Spellingg Bee".
His writings and papers are kept at the Howard Gotlieb Archival Research Center at Boston University. In September 2015, the media center at the US Open Tennis Center was named the Bud Collins Media Center in his honor.
Death and Tributes
Bud Collins passed away on March 4, 2016, at the age of 86, at his home in Brookline, Massachusetts.
After his death, many journalists and tennis stars shared their thoughts. Boston Globe columnist Dan Shaughnessy said Collins was "brilliant, clever, generous, funny, knowledgeable, and irreverent."
Christine Brennan from USA Today said, "He loved events, he loved people, he just loved everything." She added that he was a great journalist and friend.
Tennis legend John McEnroe said Collins was a "character" who "loved tennis, lived and breathed it." Billie Jean King remarked that few people had such a "lasting impact" and "unqualified love for tennis" as Bud Collins. She called him an "outstanding journalist" and "entertaining broadcaster."
Images for kids
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Bud Collins in May 2008
