Well, lemme tell ya somethin’ ’bout this feller named Roscoe Tanner. He was born back in the day, October 15, 1951, all the way in Chattanooga, Tennessee. That boy, he wasn’t like the other kids, ya know? He had a fire in him from the start. Started playin’ tennis in his younger years and got himself a real good reputation. Went professional in 1972, and by 1979, he was sittin’ up there at number four in the world rankings. That’s somethin’, ain’t it?
Now, Tanner was one of them fellers who could just whack that tennis ball like nobody’s business. He had a serve, oh lord, it was a thing of beauty. They say he could hit the ball so hard, it’d make the folks in the bleachers jump! His time in the game was full of hustle and hard work, and it paid off. I mean, the man was good, real good. Played all over, from Columbus to Maui, Milan to Los Angeles. Just couldn’t stop him once he got on that court.
Roscoe Tanner didn’t just play singles, neither. Oh no, he also did his time with the Davis Cup team, representin’ his country, and that’s somethin’ special. He was ranked top five players in the whole dang world, and that’s no small feat. In fact, his talent on the court was so mighty, folks still talk about him today. He reached a career-high singles rankin’ of number four in 1979, and it wasn’t just luck, I tell ya. That boy worked hard for every win, every point.
But, like a lotta folks, Tanner’s story ain’t all sunshine and roses. He had his share of troubles too. After he retired in 1985, life started throwin’ him some curveballs. He found himself in a bit of a pickle with the law not long ago, gettin’ arrested for a check that didn’t quite have the money to back it up. But that don’t change what he did for the sport of tennis. He’s been tryin’ to turn his life around, get things back on track, and that’s what matters. We all stumble sometimes, don’t we?
Now, he’s down in Vero Beach, Florida, teachin’ tennis and livin’ with his third wife, Margaret, and their young’un, Lacey. He’s not out there playin’ tournaments no more, but he’s still givin’ back, teachin’ the next generation of tennis players all the tricks of the trade. What a change it’s been, from hittin’ that tennis ball like a hurricane to teachin’ folks how to do it themselves. Ain’t that somethin’?
Folks around these parts still remember Roscoe Tanner. He’s been inducted into all sorts of Hall of Fames, includin’ the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame and the Southern Tennis Hall of Fame. People know the name, and they know the mark he left on the game. Ain’t nobody gonna forget a player like that. He might not be playin’ professional tennis no more, but his legacy sure lives on. He done made a real impact, and that’s the truth.
- Born: October 15, 1951, Chattanooga, Tennessee
- Career start: 1972
- Highest rank: No. 4 in the world (1979)
- Retirement: 1985
- Hall of Fame: Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame, Southern Tennis Hall of Fame
So, if you’re ever out and about in Vero Beach, keep an eye out for Roscoe Tanner. He’s one of them fellers who’s been through a lot but still got that fire in him. Teachin’ the young folks tennis and livin’ life with his family. He’s a testament to hard work, talent, and the will to keep goin’, no matter what life throws at ya.
Tags：[Roscoe Tanner, tennis, tennis player, professional tennis, Davis Cup, tennis legend, Florida, tennis history]
