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Presidential jinx Showers spoil Clinton's All England Club visit
WIMBLEDON, England (AP) -- He's no John McEnroe, but former President Bill Clinton knows his tennis. Bone-dry and dressed in a blue suit and pink tie, Clinton brightened an afternoon darkened by drizzle with a 10-minute British Broadcasting Corporation interview Saturday from the Royal Box on Centre Court at Wimbledon. Rainy day entertainment is as much a part of Wimbledon and strawberries and cream. A few years ago, the All England Club used pop star Cliff Richard -- backed by the singing of Martina Navratilova and other tennis stars -- to keep rain-soaked fans entertained. "You know it's England, it has to rain sometime," Clinton said in the interview broadcast to thousands sheltering under lollipop-colored umbrellas. "This is to be expected. It makes things green and increases our sense of anticipation. So it's probably good for all of us." In his first visit to Wimbledon, Clinton proved knowledgeable about tennis in questioning by BBC announcer Garry Richardson as he filled time in the 4 1/2-hour delay in starting play. Clinton joked that his own tennis game was "slow and inaccurate." Clinton called Wimbledon "the greatest tournament in the world," which drew quick and loud applause. He got the same response when he endorsed the chances of Englishman Tim Henman reaching the final. No Englishman has won here in 65 years. "I love the U.S. Open and I was excited by the French Open because of the clay surface and being right there ... on the court," he said. "But this is still the greatest tournament in the world. I mean, there's nothing like it. And everybody knows it. "We all sit around and wait for Wimbledon every year to see who wins so we know what we're supposed to think about who are the greatest tennis players in the world." Clinton told the crowd what it wanted to hear as he talked about 26-year-old Oxford-born Henman. "Well of course he'd like to bring home the title not only for himself and his own career but for all the rest of you as well," he said. A month ago, the former president showed up at the French Open and seemed to jinx Andre Agassi, who won only three games after he arrived and lost to Sebastien Grosjean. Pat Rafter defeated Agassi Friday in the Wimbledon semifinals without Clinton present. Clinton declined to take the blame. "That young man Grosjean played the best tennis I've ever seen in years and years," Clinton said. "I don't think anybody on the planet could have defeated him in those last two sets. I hope I didn't bring Agassi bad luck because I always pull for him because I think he's a prince of a man." Clinton said he was better at golf than tennis, calling himself "about a 12" handicap. "I'm a little better at that," he said. "Although it depends on what day it is. Which happens when you get over 50, it depends on what day it is for a lot of things when you're over 50."
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