Now if They Can Ensure Participants Participate

It never used to be this difficult to promote professional tennis in this country, but that was back when John McEnroe and Jimmy Connors and Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova used to play -- the key word there being “play.”

Strange but true, young viewers, a long, long time ago, tennis players actually liked to play in tennis tournaments -- even back-to-back tennis tournaments! -- and played through injuries and built rivalries that stirred interest in fans, who didn’t need a trumped-up “U.S. Open Series” and try-too-hard TV ads to get excited about summer tennis.

The current U.S. Open Series commercial features a sequence of quick head shots of tennis pros, unfortunately saddled with lame and unnecessary nicknames, assigned to read a line of ad copy about the greatness of the series.

It begins with Maria Sharapova (“the ‘It’ Girl”) saying, “This is the story ... “

Serena (“the Diva”) Williams: “The true story ... “

Marat (“Mr. Unpredictable”) Safin: “Of 200 tennis players ... “

Tommy (“the Stud”) Haas: “Playing across the country ... “

Elena (“Femme Fatale”) Dementieva: “For six straight weeks ... “

Justine (“the Comeback Kid”) Henin-Hardenne: “In the hot summer heat ... “

Andre (“the Legend”) Agassi: “For $2 million on the line ... “

Now let us check the U.S. Open Series attendance record of these seven U.S. Open Series spokespersons.

* Sharapova: Hadn’t played until this week, withdrew from Friday’s quarterfinals with a pectoral injury:

* Williams: Hasn’t played at all.

* Safin: Hasn’t played at all.

* Haas: Hasn’t played since losing in the second round in Los Angeles two weeks ago.

* Dementieva: Lost the only match she played in Carlsbad. In a rare move, actually consented to play the next week in Carson.

* Henin-Hardenne: Hasn’t played, the kid’s comeback having been put on hold.

* Agassi: Won in Los Angeles, then pulled out of the tournament in Washington because he needed to rest.

The good news for the U.S. Open Series is that television numbers are up. According to a U.S. Tennis Assn. news release, viewership for the first two weeks of the series on ESPN2 is up 30% from 2004.

The bad news is that star player participation is down.

Maybe those new viewers are curiosity seekers. But, once you’ve seen a blue tennis court for the first time, how long can that thrill last?

On paper, the U.S. Open Series made some sense. It was a way to organize the U.S. summer season, give it some meaning and give it some continuity -- placing it on ESPN2 every weekend. The goal, according to the USTA, was to try to duplicate the “NFL viewing habit.”

There are a few differences, however. If the Baltimore Ravens win on one Sunday, they don’t sit out the next because of injuries. The New England Patriots don’t decide to take the last Sunday of October off because they’re resting up for the Super Bowl.

If the players don’t care enough to participate consistently, why should the fans?

The non-attendance issue, however, makes an appearance at every tournament.

Friday on ESPN2, Pam Shriver and Mary Joe Fernandez batted the topic around awhile at the JPMorgan Chase Open in Carson.

Fernandez: “The tour’s a lot tougher than it was 10, 15 years ago, week in and week out. If you’re not ready from Day 1, you’re not going to win. And I think that’s what is affecting a lot of these players. They know that if they’re not 100%, they want to save themselves for the big one.”

Shriver: “Well, see, that’s the problem. I feel if players are going to wait until they’re 100%, well, then the draws are going to really dwindle.

“Because it is tough. And part of being a full-time professional tennis player is learning how to play when you’re at 93% or 88% or whatever. It’s a tough decision to make and you certainly don’t want to risk further injuring yourself and that’s where it gets to be very difficult.”

A few moments later, Shriver quipped, “I mean, I’m not 100% and I went to work today.”

ESPN2 will televise the Carson semifinals and final this weekend -- today at 7:30 p.m., Sunday at 2:30 p.m.

The so-called “Summer’s Hottest Reality Series” will press on, despite hearing too many big names exclaim, “I’m tired!” or “I just voted myself off the island!”

Also available for viewing this weekend:

TODAY

PGA Championship

(TNT, 8 a.m.; Channel 2, 11 a.m.)

Friday at Baltusrol Golf Club, “the Big Five” referred to how many strokes over par Tiger Woods was for the tournament with one hole left in his second round. Woods then birdied No. 18 to go four under and earn a weekend pass, moderate good news for TNT and CBS. Woods starts today’s third round 12 strokes off the lead, making him a virtual non-factor.

Better news for the networks: Phil Mickelson holds the lead at eight under. If Woods is Preferred Story Line No. 1 at any major, Mickelson going for it on Sunday is No. 2.

SUNDAY

Angels at Seattle Mariners

(FSNW, 1 p.m.)

Ten years ago, this matchup -- Angels at Mariners in a one-game playoff in early October -- ended in tears for the Angels, who squandered a big lead over Seattle down the stretch.

A decade later, the Angels have commemorated the 10th anniversary by letting another first-place lead slip away.

On the upside: The Angels have now gotten over the Gary DiSarcina injury.

On the down: What new way to lose will Francisco Rodriguez think of next?

IAAF World Championships

(Channel 30, 4 p.m.)

Be careful with those tournament scratches and weak-excuse bailouts, ATP and WTA players. We have seen the future of U.S. professional tennis, and it is called track and field.