Brother, sister writers co-author book with former tennis professional; 'Bad News for McEnroe' hit bookstores this week

Atlanta, TX September 4, 2004 -- When writer Sonny Long of Atlanta, Texas heard from his younger sister Cathy that she had an idea for a book, he was dubious at first.
   
But now that book, "Bad News for McEnroe: Blood, Sweat, and Backhands with John, Jimmy, Ilie, Ivan, Bjorn, and Vitas," (St. Martin's Press) has become a reality and hit book stores on Sept. 1. It is also available via Internet book stores such as Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble.com, and BooksAMillion.com.
   
Cathy's idea was to write a biography of her sports hero Bill Scanlon, the only professional ever to have achieved a Golden Set (not giving up a single point) and a John McEnroe nemesis who McEnroe called in his autobiography the only player he ever "disliked."
   
"I was skeptical at first," Sonny said. "Because Cathy had no writing experience and people are always telling me their book ideas. But when she called Scanlon and got him involved, I was more than happy to be a part of the project."
   
After Cathy and Scanlon talked, the book idea evolved from a biography to a book about the "Golden Era" of men's tennis of which Scanlon was a part. He was once ranked as high as number nine in the world.
   
"Bad News for McEnroe" is in part a revelation of the feud between McEnroe and Scanlon that began when they were teenagers, but the essence of this book are the wonderful and surprising on- and off-the-court high jinks of such notable players as Vilas, Borg, McEnroe, Nastase and Connors, all of whom Scanlon played and knew intimately, from locker room fights to on-court breakdowns and blow-ups.
   
In the golden age of tennis, when players were just learning how to become media personalities, men like McEnroe, Connors, Borg and Lendl ruled the court. This tell-all memoir is an unfettered look at the good old days of tennis when some of the most colorful (and infamous) players in history went head-to-head and the game was changed forever. This is a story that could not have come from anyone but a true insider.
   
The release of the book is not a completely joyous occasion, especially for Sonny.
   
On Sunday before Thanksgiving of 2003 -- just days after the contract had come in from St. Martin's -- Cathy was researching on the Internet trying to find photographs to use in the book. She had logged hundreds of hours at her computer over the last months, and this day was no different. She took a break, went outside -- it was a mild day, in the low 60s in upstate New York where she lived -- and hit a tennis ball against the wall for a few minutes.
   
Returning inside, something went wrong. She began to feel ill. Pains and sweats. She called her daughter who lives more than two hours away. Her daughter told her to call an ambulance. Instead, she wet a washcloth, placed it on her forehead, and reclined on the bed, hoping she'd begin to feel better.
   
But she didn't. She died of a heart attack at age 45.
   
Sonny remembers that day.
   
"When I got the call, of course, I was shocked and saddened. Eerily, the day before she had sent me an e-mail with some of the photos she had found. Her e-mail read, 'I wanted you to have these, in case I drop dead or something.' I think she knew something. I know she taught me something...inspiration, dedication, determination. Believe in your idea, work hard, and that idea can become a reality. I miss her. This book is a lasting vigil to her."
   
"Bad News for McEnroe" contains a Dedication to Cathy.

ABOUT THE AUTHORS
As a top ten ranked tennis player in the 1980s, Bill Scanlon is the only professional ever to have achieved a Golden Set (not giving up a single point). Scanlon boasts wins over eight #1 ranked players. A US Open semifinalist and a Wimbledon and Australian Open quarterfinalist, Scanlon holds 11 career singles titles and 4 career doubles titles. He lives in Los Angeles, California.

Sonny Long is a Journalism graduate of Auburn University with a Master's Degree in Communications from the University of Texas at Austin. He is an award-winning journalist and author of two previous books, "A Long Look at Life: Volume 1, Prose & Poetry"; and "A Long Look at Life: Volume 2, The Collected Columns."

Cathy Long, Sonny's younger sister, attended Arizona Western College, New Mexico State University, and received a BA in Liberal Arts from Empire State University. A Bill Scanlon fan and researcher extraordinaire, this was her first collaborative writing project.

CONTACTS
Sonny Long (903) 796-0990; ALongLook@aol.com
Bill Scanlon: bill@billscanlon.com
St. Martin's Press (Marc Resnick, editor): Marc.Resnick@stmartins.com
Peter Miller, PMA Literary Agency: PMALitFilm@aol.com

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POB 419
Atlanta, TX 75551
903-796-3369
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