The value of exhibition play, how big is the Venus purse and a logo

Can you please put in a plug for people to donate their Davis Cup tickets to USTA Alabama if they can't sell them and no longer plan on going to Federer-less first round tie. Not surprisingly, these "hot tickets" went cold when he pulled out. There are tons of ads on e-bay and Craig's list for people selling tickets. Rather than having them just go to waste, how about donating to Alabama Tennis Association. They are able to pass the tickets along to inner city children and/or other locals who would still enjoy some good tennis, albeit without Federer. Seems like this would help the sport. Here is where to send:

Alabama Tennis Association
3300 Highland Avenue South
Birmingham, AL 35205

• Great idea, Josh Benjamin of Los Alamos, N.M.

What would it take to set up an Agassi-Sampras exhibition match?
-- Jimmy Irvine, Calif.

• More money than most promoters can throw around in this economy.

Since you were discussing the "Roger Meltdown" and canned speeches, maybe you can ask your friends in the media to stop asking " How do You Feel?" after every match. Is there a bylaw between interviewer and athlete that demands this to be the first question presented after every match, win or lose? I can't take it anymore...Help!!

-- Jeff Nielsen, Denver

• No really, Jeff, tell us how you feel. (Ba-dum-bum.) OK, that's a fair request. But I have to pin that one squarely on television. Print/digital media members would ask something far more probing. Like, "How would you grade today's performance?"

I've got a question for someone with more expertise: When talking about a player's career, do we count ITF events (and I don't mean Grand Slams). I ask because the WTA has them listed with some players, but no one ever says Justine Henin won 48 titles. Is there a place to link to for an easy reference?
-- Alonso Queens, N.Y.C.

• Far as I can tell, it looks like the WTA includes these results and the ATP doesn't.

Who is the player on the ATP World Tour logo? It looks like Pete Sampras, but I'm not sure. Do you know? Thanks.
-- Josh Richmond, Va.

• I'm pretty sure the logo predates Sampras. But anyone else know? A prize is in the offing.

I'm just thinking: would Israel give a visa to, say Aisam-Ul-Hag Quereshi, for fictitious Tel-Aviv tournament (if he wants to take part, of course)? And if not, would the sport show "a real collective conscience and will" backing Pakistani player?

2) You wrote about Serena Williams: "while she still needs to beat Venus at Wimbledon, those matches are seldom about the tennis". Are you trying to wake old demons? Is it controversial statement or is it me misinterpreting something?
-- Grzegorz, Torun, Poland

• If this fictitious Israeli event promised the ATP that no player would be excluded and then, on the eve of the tournament, denied a player a visa, I would expect/hope there would be similar outrage. Again, the issue is reversing promises to the WTA and excluding players for reasons having nothing to do with merit; not whether you agree or disagree with Israeli policy.

Nothing controversial here with respect to the Williams sisters. It is emotionally awkward to compete wholeheartedly against a sibling. Who can summon those competitive juices, usually such a vital part of the Williams arsenal, against your own blood. (And it extends to fans: who among us really roots forcefully for one sibling to beat another?) Much as they try -- admirably -- to outwit themselves into "playing the ball" or "treating my sister like any other opponent," how could it feel natural? I cannot be any more clear on this: I do not believe their matches are in any way rigged or fixed or tainted. But it's clear there's a huge and unique emotional component here. That's all.

Can you tell me the correct pronunciation of "Verdasco" - "wo-da-sko" or "be-da-sko" approximately? I couldn't find the answer from ATP official site.
-- Karol, China

• VER-das-co. Make like the second half of "Wizard of Oz," and leave "b and w" out of it.

Shots, Miscellany:

• New York readers -- and African American readers in particular -- please consider this.

• A leftover from last week. What are the odds that two pairs of sisters in the Dubai draw, the Williamses and the Radwanksas (Radwanksis?) played each other.

• Tom Ka of Dublin forwarded this link to an interesting interview with Jens Wehrmeister a collector of Tennis 80s and 70s stuff -- rackets and apparel and so at " Avec Double Cordage".

• Nicole of Torrington, Conn. with our real estate update on Ivan Lendl:

Pretty decent place.

• Alex Ketaineck of Madison, N.J.: I didn't know Mardy Fish was a father. Oh wait, that's Mark Knowles of Bahrain...errr The Bahamas. Yahoo! Sports just doesn't seem to like him very much.

• Helen of Seattle notes: Viva la one-handed backhand! Three of the four semifinalists in Acapulco had a one-handed backhand. I think Nicolas Almagro's is my new favorite.

• Michelle M. of New Fairfield, Conn. has our Long, Lost siblings. And given how many of you have likened Safin to McHunky or whatever his name is (not a Grey's fan, even if it didn't conflict with 30 Rock) all we need is a Davydenko lookalike and the cast is the Russian Davis Cup team.

Kevin McKidd from Grey's Anatomy and Dmitry Tursunov.

Have a good week everyone!