The Tennis World Pays Hommage To Bud Collins

Donald Dell: “I loved Bud Collins and he was a special friend. We shared the same birthday as well. He was one of my closest friends along with Jack Kramer and Barry MacKay. We worked five Wimbledons on Centre Court together with Dick Enberg. We called one of the greatest Wimbledon finals in 1980 with Borg-McEnroe.  I was Davis Cup captain in 1968-69 and Bud was our official writer.  You can’t say enough about him because in the 1970s, 1980s he was a big promoter of tennis and was a helluva commentator. He was by far and away the best historian of the sport. Bud was a very good writer and commentator and he always wanted to bring a different dimension to the audience. He was the best, period.”

Mark Stenning, former International Tennis Hall of Fame CEO: “Bud was a frequent guest at Newport, and never turned down a request to help in any way.  He helped with appearances, presentations and with his friendship. When we were struggling to memorialize another Hall of Famer, Bud said, ‘Why don’t you just say that tennis never had a better friend.’ That is how I will remember Arthur “Bud” Collins – ‘Tennis never had a better friend.’”

Tony Trabert: “He did a great job writing and broadcasting and he was truly a Hall of Famer. He was popular with everyone and will be missed. He was a really good guy.

“One little story comes to mind is when Bud and I were doing commentary for the Italian Open in Rome. A baseline official missed a call and Bud said, ‘Luigi missed that call.’ We went to a commercial break and I asked him how he knew his name.  Bud said to me, ‘it was an Italian name and nobody knows either.’”

Raymond Moore, BNP Paribas Open CEO: “Not only was Bud a legend, and the most knowledgeable person about our sport, but he was colorful on top of it. And when I say colorful I mean rainbow colorful; which was unique, special and encapsulated everything we loved about Bud. We will miss him dearly.”

“On a personal level, Bud was partially responsible for launching my career and my partner Bob Lutz’s career. One of our first big wins was in Boston and Bud never let me forget how much he talked us up on the air and how much great promotion he gave us. And every time he reminded me, I was grateful to have been part of Bud’s memories. He was probably one of the most giving people that I met. He would do anything for people around the game, and he will be sorely missed.”

Stan Smith, International Tennis Hall of Fame president: “Bud made such a huge impact on our sport because he was one of the most knowledgeable people in tennis and he was so committed to always learning more about the sport and its characters. By combining his knowledge with his one-of-a-kind color, he really made the game fun and interesting for the fans and the players. He was responsible for growing interest in our sport tremendously.

Todd Martin, International Tennis Hall of Fame CEO: “Bud will be greatly missed, but his impact on the game will never be lost. He documented and commented on our sport’s great moments and history every day, and in doing so, he made history himself. As a player, one could count on Bud to be fair, easy to speak with, and able to see past the surface on any subject. His heart and passion for the sport were just as great as his pants were bold. He drew fans into our sport and he kept every one of us in the industry engaged in the news. 

“While we are saddened today, it is impossible to think of Bud and not smile. He will be greatly missed, but always remembered with happiness and admiration.”

Jimmy Connors: “When Bud was around tennis was a lot more fun. He will be sadly missed.”

Chris Kermode, ATP Executive Chairman and President: “The ATP family is deeply saddened to learn of Bud’s passing. Generous, gregarious and sharply witty, Bud was equally loved and respected by all in the tennis community. His impact on the sport was immense. His Encyclopedia remains to this day as one of the game’s defining literary works and reference sources. Bud’s legacy will live on for a long, long time.”

USTA Statement: The USTA is deeply saddened by the passing of legendary tennis journalist Bud Collins. Bud was larger than life, and his countless contributions to the sport helped to make it the global success that it is today. Bud was a mentor to many, and a friend to many more. Our sport was most fortunate to be associated with a man of such character and class, and we were privileged to have had the chance to honor his lasting legacy to the sport by naming the US Open Media Center in his honor last year. He will be sorely missed by all of us who loved him—and by the sport he loved so dearly.

Ken Solomon, Tennis Channel president: “With the rest of our industry and tennis fans everywhere, we at Tennis Channel are saddened by the passing of our friend and colleague Bud Collins, the game’s most passionate, pioneering voice, and the gentleman who introduced this great sport to so many over the decades.  Our network, televised tennis and sports coverage in general owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to Bud’s effortless blending of traditional newsprint storytelling with a then nascent television medium as it gained ever increasing importance on the American cultural landscape.  In doing so he elevated tennis to a previously unimaginable plane of awareness and enjoyment for fans the world over.

“Tennis Channel was blessed to have benefited from his professional expertise on our air and online, but even more fortunate to know his kindness, friendship and generosity of spirit.  Our hearts and thoughts are with his wife Anita and their family and friends.  Bud will be sorely missed, but his humanity and mountainous achievements remains with us, always.”

Joel Drucker, journalist & Tennis Channel field producer: “No one will ever bring more of his heart and soul to tennis than Bud Collins.  A true original, Bud brought incredible passion and skill, bringing our sport to life in ways at once creative and insightful.  But even more: He was kind to a fault, a true man of the people – a big-time person who never big-timed anyone.”