Shots, miscellany

• This is an unbelievable video clip. Note the score in the match. And you thought tennis wasn't a contact sport:

• Bud Collins' History of Tennis is available for pre-order on Amazon.com (at 39 percent off).

• Speaking of books, identical twins and fixtures of the tennis firmament, Tom and Jerry Caraccioli, have joined forces to write Boycott: Stolen Dreams of the 1980 Moscow Olympic Games ($25.95, New Chapter Press). It chronicles the stories of 18 elite American athletes who trained thousands of hours for their once-in-a-lifetime chance at Olympic glory in Moscow only to become pawns in a political Cold War chess match between superpowers. More information on the book can be found at boycottbook.com.

• Eduardo Gigante of São Paulo, Brazil: "I was wondering if you could also mention a blog by Brazilian doubles specialist Marcelo Melo, 'Blog da Girafa' ("The Giraffe's blog," due to his nickname)? Granted, it's in Portuguese, but still it is very interesting insight into the life of a doubles player and features many photos and video statements from players like Fernando González and the Bryan Brothers."

• Andrew of New York City: "NBC has long since forced YouTube to pull the Leno video of Djokovic, but your readers might be interested to know that you can view the whole March 12 show on NBC's Web site."

• Alex Ketaineck of Madison, N.J., wonders: "Is Nadal using crib notes?"

• Speaking of Nadal, Daniel Lausanne of Switzerland writes: "This is a link from a Swiss newspaper, citing a close friend of the Nadal family. It mentions the fact that Nadal might be forced to retire at the end of the year!

• Here's the excellent Steve Bierley of The Guardian taking it to the WTA and ATP. Anyone who can use the phrase "cock a snook" without irony is doing well by me.

• John Bayalis (a.k.a. The Smoking Cupcake) wrote this fine piece on Sampras-Federer.

• Very nice piece from Kent Oswald on the "other" Richard Williams.

• The Easter Bowl kicks off this week in Rancho Mirage, Calif. Keep an eye on the youngest player in the tournament, a 12-year-old from Newport Beach named Joseph DiGiulio. He won the Orange Bowl final by a 6-0, 6-0 score and then won the Eddie Herr final by a 6-1, 6-0 score. He's the No. 1 12-year old in the nation playing the 14s. Check out easterbowl.blogspot.com.

As for those old tennis balls

• Drew W. of Los Angeles writes: "Regarding the recycling of tennis balls, you posted a link to a recycling program in the last two years, one that I sent you via the Mailbag. I also got this reply from Penn:

"'Thank you for your e-mail. Due to the materials in a tennis ball it cannot be recycled in the traditional manner. However, we have seen some of our customers donate the old tennis balls to schools or dog parks. Hope this helps. Best Regards, HEAD/Penn Racquet Sports.'"

• Looks like the Japanese are ahead on this one.

• Here's Greenlight Magazine.

• Clady of Culver City, Calif., writes: "Tell Jon in Georgia that there is a good use for old tennis balls. Lots of seniors (and others) who use walkers cut an 'X' in the balls and slip them over the ends of the legs of their walkers or canes to help prevent slipping. He should look for senior centers, rehab places and so on and arrange to donate the used tennis balls to them."

F.P. of Nashville, Tenn.: "Shocking but true long-lost siblings: Ivanovic and Benicio del Toro -- check out photo No. 17 here."

Have a great week, everyone!