Mark Merklein, Grip MD

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Grip MD is a revolutionary new unique training device developed by two former collegiate tennis stars with the goal to aid players of all levels how to perfect the proper volley, serve, and slice grip.

Grip MD is the creation of former ATP World Tour doubles No. 38 and NCAA Champion Mark Merklein and former Notre Dame No. 1 Matt Daly. The device simply slips on to the handle of the racket, allowing the player to feel the perfect Continental grip. The Continental grip is used for the slice, serve and volleys in tennis and is vital to a player’s development.

Rick is joined by Merklein this week.

“Having worked with players of all levels from beginners to pros, I have found that teaching the correct grip is the most important part of any player’s technical development,” said Daly, Co-Founder of GripMD. “It is also extremely hard to teach and commonly misunderstood. This device greatly simplifies the process, allowing players to find the perfect grip in a short period of time.”

Merklein appears in several information YouTube videos demonstrating how to master the slice, volley and second serve using Grip MD.

Take advantage of a special offer now. Get three Grip MD products for the low price of $99. Or buy one for $39.95. To purchase and for more information or to purchase GripMD, visit at: https://www.thegripmd.com.

Christopher Clarey, Author “THE MASTER: The Brilliant Career of Roger Federer”

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Chris Clarey joins Rick this week to talk a little tennis and his new book on Roger Federer.

There have been other biographies of Roger Federer, but never one with this kind of access to the man himself, his support team, and the most prominent figures in the game, including such rivals as Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, and Andy Roddick. In THE MASTER: The Brilliant Career of Roger Federer (Twelve, August 24, 2021), New York Times correspondent Christopher Clarey sits down with Federer and those closest to him to tell the story of the greatest player in men’s tennis.

THE MASTER tells the story of Federer’s life and career on both an intimate and grand scale, in a way no one else could possibly do. Fantastic timing as Federer is in the news that he will not play again in 2021.

Great to talk to Chris leading up to the US Open and a great read!

Chris Ivy, Heritage Auctions’ Blazing Summer Platinum Night Auction

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Sports collecting has reached a fever pitch, and Chris Ivy of Heritage Auctions is here to talk with Rick.

Lots to talk about.

$20 million worth of sports history will be up for grabs when Dallas-based Heritage Auctions conducts its star-studded Summer Platinum Auction which is underway and continues through August 21-22. The event features a treasure-trove of sports memorabilia including a vintage Babe Ruth rookie trading card worth more than $1 million, the finest known baseball signed by Joe DiMaggio and Marilyn Monroe, Magic Johnson’s title-clinching jersey from his rookie season with the Lakers, another $1 million artifact, and the collection of San Francisco Giants beloved icon Willie McCovey.

All of this and more with Chris Ivy.

Alex Alt, Oracle, Getting Back to Normal Travel?

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Rick is joined by Alex Alt of Oracle this week.

Oracle is helping Americans travel!

In May, 24% of respondents said they planned to travel immediately, and 31% in the next one to three months. The takeaway? 55% are ready to roam in time for Independence Day.

Stars, Stripes…and Shots: Over 3/4 (77%) of North American consumers said a COVID-19 vaccination is very or somewhat important in giving them the peace of mind to travel; almost 1/5 (18%) will not get on a plane until they are fully vaccinated.

Rentals Reduce Travel Anxiety: 54% of travelers said they plan to stay at a short-term rental property (such as an Airbnb) in the next twelve months, with 43% of that group citing the ability to stay socially distanced and minimize COVID-19 risk.

Can’t Touch This: Consumers want pandemic-era upgrades to stay the norm. 67% want hotels to maintain more frequent cleaning and disinfecting procedures; 55% want to see guest areas/public spaces continue to be arranged for social distancing; 11% plan to dine solely via room service to minimize contact.

Alex leads Oracle’s vertical software business that serves the hospitality, casino, and cruise industries. Dedicating most of his career to hospitality with experience as an operator and a technology provider, Alex joined Oracle in November 2019 to lead the technical, operational, and cultural transformation of the industry’s leading provider of property management, point of sale, distribution, analytics, and loyalty solutions. With more than 20 years in the travel and hospitality industries, Alex spearheaded global development and strategy for renowned luxury operator Rosewood Hotels & Resorts, led Sabre’s Hospitality Solutions business, and served industry clients as a consultant with McKinsey & Company. Alex earned an MBA from Harvard Business School and a BBA from the University of Texas.

Jason Bailey, Radio Personality, Inventor of My Court Caddy

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Rick has a great guest this week!

Atlanta Radio Personality, Truist Atlanta Open presented by Fiserv tournament MC, and avid tennis player, Jason Bailey, who can now add “Inventor” to his resume.

Inventor?

The 46-year old radio personality has created a revolutionary new tennis product called “My Court Caddy.” It’s available for pre-order now!

It turns out, Bailey finally had enough with that dreadful third ball while on the tennis court. Maybe someone didn’t pick it up during play, and in times of a pandemic, he needed a safe place to put his “stuff.”

With an extra ball rolling around the court, a player could trip over it and sprain their ankle, lose it or the ball finds the only puddle on the court.

“I had the idea and my partner had a 3D printer, so we went to work producing the product to see if it would work,” explained Bailey. “Atlanta’s the No. 1 tennis city in the country and I envision this at clubs, tennis centers and maybe something tournaments or leagues provide to its players.”

My Court Caddy is a tennis player’s homebase for balls, towels, water bottles and anything else you decide to hang on any of the three hooks available. It’s a way to keep your things safe and away from your partner’s or opponent’s personal items.

How does it work?

The concept is simple, but the possibilities are endless. You just hook it onto the chain link fence with the two clips on the back and let gravity do its job. There are two side hooks and one bottom hook for all of your personal items. Perfect to keep an eye on your valuables and more.

How to get yours?

MyCourtCaddy is now available for pre-orders on the website. You can learn more about My Court Caddy at www.MyCourtCaddy.com.

Bob Boylan, Author ‘4 Ideas with Actionable Wisdom’

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Our thoughts define who we are. But for many of us, thoughts of work and the things we need to get done consume our waking hours. How can we achieve a more balanced life if we are so overwhelmed?

This is where Bob Boylan and his new book, 4 Ideas With Actionable Wisdom, come in, offering concrete, actionable suggestions from which readers of all ages can benefit.

Rick talks to Bob this week!

“People don’t realize that they’re actually living in ‘white water,’” Boylan says. “Busyness has become their normal. They don’t realize that they can improve their lives by just spending a little time each day in ‘calm water thinking’ to help generate fresh, thoughtful ideas and improve focus.”

Bob Boylan is a retired presentation skills trainer, professional landscape photographer, seasoned traveler, and the founder of Successful Presentations. He has been self-employed since the age of 31, which has given him the flexibility to travel, explore, and live his life outside the box. A lifelong encourager, Boylan wrote 4 Ideas with Actionable Wisdom to help people see their lives through different eyes and to realize that there is so much more they could be doing to live more effective, “calm water” lives.

Written in short, digestible chapters, 4 Ideas with Actionable Wisdom offers insight that readers can act on now. Readers are encouraged to learn to balance their lives, to be more grateful, to make changes more effectively, and to be more creative. Boylan’s included discussion questions help readers pinpoint exactly where they can change their own thinking, find calm and focus, and take more effective control of their lives and what they will become.

“No matter how young or old you are, you can always take steps to change your life for the better, and Bob has some excellent, wisdom-filled advice to offer. Highly recommended!” – Rachel Song, Editor and Writer

“My goal is to make sure that readers not only understand my ideas but use them,” Boylan says. “We become what we think about. Ultimately, you are in control of what you think about and how you think about it.”