Davis Cup is larger than American life

The Davis Cup is huge. Literally. It looks like someone set an oversized version of grandma’s candy bowl on the sawed-off trunk of a 100-year-old oak. Paul Bunyan should be standing next to it, an ax in one hand, wiping his brow with the other. If the United States beats Russia and wins the Davis Cup on Sunday, Andy Roddick better not try to lift it over his head. It will crush him.

On Thursday, I got a good look at the prize for this weekend’s tennis matches.

First, however, we were promised a red carpet photo op outside the Portland Center for the Performing Arts, prior to the Draw Ceremony. Red being a particularly polite way to welcome the visitors from Russia.

 – Excerpt from The Oregonian, November 30, 2007