Santa Monica, CA — Who’s ready for Wimbledon, the granddaddy of tennis tournaments:  Roger Federer.  He’s reached the Final this year without dropping a set.  Wow!

Also, Me.  I love The Championships. I get up early, check the scores over Peets Coffee. Watch a match or two, then hit the surf.

Strawberries & Cream. Pimm’s Cups. Oreo McFlurrys. (Wait for it!)

The world’s most marketable sports star is once again on a roll having just won a premier grass-court tune-up tournament in Halle, Germany … for the 9th time in his career.

For 2017, Federer’s record is 30-2, winning four big titles (Aus Open, Indian Wells, Miami Open, and Halle).  He’s pocketed over $5m in prize money, and has well surpassed $100m in career prize money.

Were I a betting man, I would bet on Federer to win Wimbledon for the 8th time.  Initially, I was looking for either Rafael Nadal  or Andy Murray to be across the net in the final broadcast in the US on E S P N and Tennis Channel.  However, Nadal bowed out in the 4th Round, and Murray’s hip gave out in the QFs to Santa Monica’s Sam Querrey.

In fact, here are My Picks For Wimbledon courtesy of Tennis Channel’s Racquet Bracket online pool challenge.  As is tradition, my brother Will and I compete against one another for not only IntraFamily Eternal Glory but also for an Oreo McFlurry from McDonalds .  For the season, Will is up 2-0, so I am hoping for a win for Team Steve!

I did not pick Marin Cilic to reach the final, though.  Congrats, Will.

For Federer, he can add to his 18 grand slam titles and 1,100 match wins in addition to millions of Euros in not only prize money but also in endorsements, where he is The King.  He’s already among Forbes’ Magazine’s Highest Paid Athletes in the world, coming in at No. 4 with over $60m in 2017, most of which comes from lucrative endorsement deals.

For Nike, Wilson, etc., The Championships represents a two-week commercial to advertise the latest Federer gear: White Shirts, Shorts, Headbands, Pullovers, etc. And Wimbledon, would love to sell you that Commemorative Towel Federer uses to wipe the little bit of perspiration from his magnificently calm brow.

What other sports change their clothes as often, I ask you?  Baseball, Basketball, Football — it’s either Home or Away change of gear, yes?

Tennis is lucrative. Tennis is global. Tennis is branded out the wazoo! And Television is the mechanism to market all the clothes, racquets and gear to a worldwide audience.

In January, Federer won his fifth  wearing a Black & White Nike shirt and Black Nike Shorts.  For the North American hard court swing, Federer switched to a Green version of the Henley shirt, which was a best-seller.

For the fashionable Federer fan around the world, one shirt is simply not enough. Point. Click. Purchase.  In 48 hours, you can be decked out in Roger’s championship clothes.

Remarkably, Federer won the Sunshine Double hoisting the trophy at both Indian Wells (d. Wawrinka) and Miami (d. Nadal)… at the advanced age of 35.

You can bet Nike had a clay-court ensemble ready to debut in April, however, Federer skipped the entire Spring season (Monte Carlo, Madrid, Rome, Roland Garros) to rest up for the grass.  He debuted a new blue ensemble in Stuttgart and Halle.

Predictably, I want that shirt, those shorts, those socks and those shoes.  And I can have them too, but it’s gonna cost me.  Ah, the Power of Television, of Subliminal Marketing!

During the 11-month Tennis Season, surfaces change from Hardcourt to Clay to Grass then back to Hardcourt then to Indoor Carpet. So, your Shoes change with the surface, as well.  On Clay, ya gotta slide. On grass, you need not to slip. On hardcourts, you need shoes that breathe.

So, here’s the rundown on Federer Wear, courtesy of Tennis Warehouse.  It’s not inexpensive, but the good news is that Shipping will be free if ya go for the entire Fed Kit.  Just look out for the price-tag for his Rolex watch, though. Yikes!

Tennis Warehouse – Wimbledon White Collection:

• $249.00  RACKET:  Wilson Pro Staff RF97 Autograph (No Strings or stencil)
• $140.00  SHOES:  Nike Zoom Vapor 9.5 Flyknit
• $100.00  SHIRT:  Nike Henley (Gotta be All White for Wimbledon!)
• $  28.00  HAT:  RF Classic
• $  85.00  SHORTS:  Nike Men’s Summer Flex Ace7
• $  17.00  HEADBAND:  Nike
• $  12.00  WRISTBAND (x2): Nike
• $150.00  JACKET: Nike Men’s Spring Premier RF N98 (It rains in London!)
• $  25.00  T-SHIRT:  Nike
• $  13.50  SOCKS: Nike (3-pak!)
• $150.00  RACKET BAG:  Nike
• $9,100.00 WATCH: Rolex Oyster Perpetual Datejust II or the BATMAN GMT (optional as Federer doesn’t wear it during the match, only afterward during trophy presentations)

Sub-total (excluding Rolex):  $1,000 to dress for success.

If Federer’s gear is too pricey for ya, I do have a terrific alternative:  Check out Athletes Collective a Toronto-based company that has some very cool shirts and shorts that work well on and off the court. It’s unbranded, high quality apparel:  Perfect for someone such as myself, who plays 1-2/week on public courts using one racquet and one can of balls with no coach or paparazzi in sight.

I need one good shirt and one good pair of shorts.  These fit the bill nicely.

N E X T   U P:

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