People handle stress in different ways.

There's plenty of anecdotal evidence that most champions are born into certain environments and encouraged early. Then, later on, they might get some assistance from their federations.

Unbelievable, yet, what else could it be?

I'm not suggesting that the entire nation can't be successful, but there's something to it when you have 150 cable channels and the Internet at your fingertips and video games and all kinds of ADD-addled devices like my iPhone and your BlackBerry and things that keep us busy.

There are certainly great cities in America that don't have ATP and WTA events. Our fans are very provincial. They want American champions.

There's a reason why Federer and Nadal are so gracious when they lose. They sleep well at night knowing that they've given their best.

Even the poor can be fat in the U.S.