Happy Earth Day!
Centuries ago, well before Hubbel and the modern radio telescopes, the astronomer Ptolemy postulated our planet Earth as the center of the known universe, with all other celestial bodies orbiting about us. Yet, Ptolemy's bold claim was missing a few key details, not the least of which was any factual evidence to support his gaudy Earth-centric assertion.
Fast forward a century. Far more sophisticated theories about the structure of our universe began to emerge. Ptolemy's Earth-centric ideas were not only being challenged but ridiculed. Credit for setting our planetary record straight shifted to the astronomer Galileo, who assessed the Earth's GPS as just another planet in an intricate solar system of celestial objects orbiting a heat-providing star named the Sun, with our solar system just one of billions of equally intricate solar systems in a galaxy vaster than anyone's mind could grasp.
The Church and State, being the powers they were, did not take kindly to Galileo’s Earth-bashing blasphemy. Skeptics of the Earth-First point of view faced imminent death if they failed to recant their demoting of Mother Earth's status in the cosmos—nothing like the threat of a medieval quartering to set scientific progress back a few eons.
In time, data showed that our Earth was just one of many billions of planets that make up our gigantic universe. Since then, Science and Religion have battled mightily over the origins of our mysterious existence. This historic battle between science and religion still rages to this day, with science storming back from a set and a break deficit, now cruising to a comfortable and seemingly eternal victory.
Educated discussions regarding the make-up of the universe can quickly get uncomfortably scientific. Humanity, a proud species, was understandably dejected by Earth's fall in intergalactic status. Pulling a Freudian move several centuries before Freud was born, Mankind took Earth's cosmic demotion out on Mother Earth herself, getting real busy on her with a few centuries’ worth of Industrial Revolution. Earth's vast hidden resources were soon extracted to the Earth's surface, where man and his ever-burgeoning ingenuity took over. The results of Mankind’s toiling are the advanced industrialism of the world we live in today, with all the benefits and comforts we enjoy daily.
But all gain and no pain does not exist…
The year was 1962. Rachel Carson's book Silent Spring shook the world, resulting in the birth of the modern Environmental Movement. The unforeseen byproducts of man's ceaseless industriousness turned out to be quite damaging, poisoning our Water, Earth, and Air, all in the name of progress.
A new battle was now on between industry and environmentalism. Who among us doesn’t want a gas station on every corner with cheap gas? But our conveniences come with a cost. The story of modernity involves finding the right balance between development and conservation, with each party equally determined to gut the other. Humanity, the beneficiaries of both, is stuck in the middle, trying to find a compromise where both forces can flourish equally.
On April 22nd, 1970, the inhabitants of our planet began celebrating Earth Day. Though Earth Day acknowledgements come in many forms, at their core is humanity's newfound respect and care for Mother Earth's environment and the crucial role humans play in its preservation.
The tennis community knows of the connectedness between Man and Earth. Who can forget Boris Becker's diving volleys at Wimbledon's hallowed grounds?
Rafael Nadal made clay courts worldwide his own private sandbox, soiling his shoes and socks with Mother Earth's confounding crushed red brick (confounding to his opponents, I should say)
Growing up playing in sunny Southern California, my peers and I felt the power of the Earth, leaving our blood, sweat, and cartilage on the unforgiving indigenous hard courts that grow naturally in Los Angeles’ concrete jungle habitat.
As the world stops this Earth Day to recognize the importance of the environment in our Earthly existence, I would like to share some ideas about understanding the importance of the tennis environment we inhabit.
If there’s one thing all tennis competitors can agree upon, whatever your age or level, the tennis journey is long, the environment stressful. Over the next few posts, I will discuss the importance of understanding the tennis environment, your role as a player, what to do if you find yourself struggling, and, most importantly, how we can improve the tennis climate we are all an important part of.
I firmly believe tennis’s long-term health depends on maintaining a healthy and rewarding competitive environment for all participants.
So please join me on my First Ball To Last platform over the next few days as we examine this further.