No Challenges Remaining

Hey! Big New May Mailbag Episode Over on NCR's Patreon!

At the suggestion of a few listeners, we thought it might be useful to alert listeners on this main feed when we upload a Patreon-only episode. And Ben and Courtney just put up their biggest Patreon-only yet, with over two hours across all sorts of topics, mostly non-tennis though with a few decided tangents into the sport we find ourselves without currently. 

This is our fifth Patreon-only episode, and backers to our Patreon can access all episodes and other discussion threads and posts. We're currently at 192 backers--just eight short of 200?--and would love to have your support. And we think it's a deal worth your while if you enjoy Ben and Courtney talking (which hopefully you do if you're reading this).

Hope everyone is well out there! And thanks to our G.O.A.T. backer J.O'D!

Episode 257a: An NCRvision Refresher

The 2020 Eurovision Song Contest final was slated to be held today in Rotterdam, but alas 'twas not to be given the coronavirus situation around the continent and the world. The world is a far less glittery place than it should be. 

But fear not if you're missing that song contest fix! We're reairing our beloved NCRvision Song Contest from 2016 here for your renewed enjoyment. There's also a purpose behind this reairing: to get you refamiliarized with the songs for when our results show finally drops later this month! You're going to love it, we promise.

If you'd like to support our show, particularly as our normal work has disappeared along with the sport, we've launched an NCR Patreon where you can do just that! Check out our five tiers and see which might be right for you! And thank you to the many listeners who have already given their support! (And thank you to G.O.A.T. backer J O'D!) 

As always, thanks for liking us on Facebook (leave comments on the episode thread! Engage with other listeners!), following us on Twitter (discuss this episode with hashtag #NCRvision!), and subscribing/reviewing on iTunes on iTunes or whatever your podcasting app/platform of choice may be.

Episode 252: How to Begin to Restart, with Mark Ein

With the traditional European clay swing and the grass court circuit both off the calendar for the 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the next possible start line for the sport is the summer hardcourt stretch in North America, on which the first big combined event would be the Citi Open in Washington.

To discuss how the tournament is preparing and thinking currently, Ben is joined by Citi Open owner Mark Ein, who gives his insights and perspectives about how tennis might return after months away, and in what form.

Though the event is still months away, there's lots of ideas and contingencies already floating around, and Mark walks us through several different scenarios which should help to illuminate this murky landscape more clearly for listeners.

If you'd like to support our show, particularly as our normal work has disappeared along with the sport, we've launched an NCR Patreon where you can do just that! Check out our five tiers and see which might be right for you! And thank you to the many listeners who have already given their support! (And thank you to G.O.A.T. backer J O'D!) 

As always, thanks for liking us on Facebook (leave comments on the episode thread! Engage with other listeners!), following us on Twitter (discuss this episode with hashtag #NCR252!), and subscribing/reviewing on iTunes on iTunes or whatever your podcasting app/platform of choice may be.

Episode 243d: Australian Open - Serena, Wang, Osaka & Gauff Stun Week 1

Ben and Courtney get together at the end of a long week one which really just featured one crazy day.

Beginning with the end of Caroline Wozniacki's career and continuing with the upset wins of Wang Qiang over Serena Williams and Coco Gauff over Naomi Osaka, what exactly happened to make Friday so crazy?

And what else happened throughout the week, and how does it set up the rest of this tournament?

As always, thanks for liking us on Facebook (leave comments on the episode thread! Engage with other listeners!), following us on Twitter (discuss this episode with hashtag #NCRAusOpen!), and subscribing/reviewing on iTunes on iTunes or whatever your podcasting app/platform of choice may be.

Episode 175b: Still Remembering When

Since 2016 had so much stuff to remember, Ben and Courtney split Episode 175 into two pieces so they could make it all more manageable. Here's the second part, which covers (more or less) late April until the end of the year. 

Lots in there, to be sure, so be sure to chew carefully. And if there's still something worthwhile which we forgot (and there almost certainly is), let us know on Twitter or Facebook! 

And as always, thanks for liking us on Facebook (leave comments on the episode thread! Engage with other listeners), following us on Twitter (discuss this episode with hashtag #NCR175b!), and subscribing/reviewing on iTunes on iTunes or whatever your podcasting app/platform of choice may be.

Episode 158: Walking Wimbledon, From Lands Of Grass and Ice

With Wimbledon just around the corner, Ben and Courtney stroll through the grass lead up so far. Who has raised his or her stock most? How much can we read into these results? And what is it about the tranquility of Halle and Eastbourne that make them such idyllic warmups? Also: super takes on super coaches.

Then, we welcome back Wimbledon superstar Alex Willis, who catches up listeners on developments at the All-England Club over the last year (cool stuff afoot!), before we step back in time and reshare the walking tour she did last year. Then we rant about Icelandic stuff--both of us, somehow. 

And as always, thanks for liking us on Facebook (leave comments on the episode thread!), following us on Twitter (discuss this episode with hashtag #NCR158!), and subscribing/reviewing on iTunes or whatever your podcasting app/platform of choice may be.

Episode 153a: The NCRvision Song Contest!

We are beyond excited to bring you the NCRvision Song Contest, a celebration of and competition for the best songs inspired by tennis in the world! Ben and cohosts Carole Bouchard and Rene Denfeld walk you through the 26 songs which reached the final and are hoping for your votes. The ballot is here. Any questions, please ask!

Here's the running order, full of twists and turns and bops and jams.

1. Binge - "Vamos Rafa"
2. Robin Ward - "Wimbledon"
3. We Are the Physics - "Goran Ivanisevic"
4. Stagecoach - "Evonne"
5. Ivo Karlovic (Feat. Novak Djokovic) - "Moja droga je tenis"
6. Gino's Eyeball - "Kournikova"
7. Drew McCulloch - "Andy Murray"
8. City of Angels - "The Tennis Song"
9. We Got the Power! - "Wozniacki"
10. Jenna Maroney - "Tennis Night in America"
11. Wyclef Jean - "Venus (I'm Ready)"
12. The Party Man Network - "Milos Raonic PSA Song"
13. dyadyaBOB - "Sam vs OVAs"
14. Far In Jim - "Hey There Andy Murray"
15. Jamie Foxx - "Can I Be Your Tennis Ball? (+Remix)"
16. Bryan Bros Band (Feat. Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray) - "Autograph"
17. DJ Grand Slam (Feat. King Roger) - "Success Comes Back"
18. Phranc - "M-A-R-T-I-N-A"
19. Rich White Ladies - "Wimbledon"
20. Rock Salt & Nails - "Volley Highway"
21. Serena Williams - "I Win"
22. Hugh Laurie - "I'm in Love With Steffi Graf"
23. Kieran Butler - "Allez Tsonga"
24. Beatenberg - "Rafael"
25. Umberto Carli - "Like Maria Sharapova"
26. Dan Bern - "Isner & Mahut"

Once you've listened to them all, go vote! 

Share your on Facebook (leave comments on the episode thread!), on Twitter (discuss this episode with hashtag #NCRvision!). And do subscribe/review on iTunes or whatever your podcasting app/platform of choice may be.

Episode 146: Rounding up Maria Sharapova

As the dust settles on a week that saw Maria Sharapova (and several busloads of other athletes) test positive for the newly-prohibited substance meldonium, Ben convenes a roundtable of tennis talkers to discuss the case and it's implications near and far. With friends of the show Jon Wertheim, Carole Bouchard and Simon Cambers, we discuss the test itself, what it means to Sharapova's legacy, how it could have happened, and all sorts of other related stuff, including French people who should keep their mouths shut about Rafael Nadal.

As always, thanks for liking us on Facebook, following us on Twitter, and subscribing/reviewing on whatever your podcasting app/platform of choice may be.

Episode 141h: Australian Open Day 9: Eating at Us

Ben and Courtney found Day 9's action entirely underwhelming, with every favorite winning in straight sets with relative ease. So after a brief chat on Serena-Maria, we shift to the coolest story of the tournament: Zhang Shuai, and just why her run is so delightfully life affirming. Then, we talk about being made unwitting reality show stars by the tournament, whose "AO Live" feeds are intruding on what had been considered sheltered spaces in the heart of this tournament. It's a bit much. Then, Courtney delights in discography geography, and Ben doesn't need your thoughts on his orders, thank you very much. 

As always, thanks for liking us on Facebook, following us on Twitter, and subscribing/reviewing on whatever your podcasting app/platform of choice may be!

Episode 141g: Australian Open Day 8: Serena-Maria Nostalgia

With their 21st meeting tomorrow, Ben and Courtney take a stroll down the very noisy memory lane that is the Serena Williams-Maria Sharapova rivalry (yes, it's a rivalry, you guys). After hearing from Day 8 winners Milos Raonic and Johanna Konta, we gear up for the marquee women's quarterfinal with some archive audio of past Melbourne meetings, and then hear about the tactical side of their match-up from tactician Craig O'Shannessy, who has worked as a consultant with Team Sharapova on trying to solve the Serena riddle.

As always, thanks for liking us on Facebook, following us on Twitter, and subscribing/reviewing on iTunes or whatever your podcasting platform of choice may be!