White House big-hitter [Condi] Rice to serve up British tennis star: report

AFP ^ | 5-17-03 | AFP

[GraniteStateConservative]

LONDON (AFP) - Top British tennis player Tim Henman has accepted an invitation to play US national security adviser Condoleezza Rice when he visits Washington for a tournament in July, a London newspaper reported.

Rice, said to be passionate about tennis, will hit a few balls with Henman when he visits Washington for the Legg Mason Classic, a tournament on the men's professional tour, according to The Sunday Times.

Henman's agent, quoted in the weekly, said the player had "agreed to play" Rice.

The security adviser was a frequent doubles partner of Britain's former ambassador to the United States, Christopher Meyer, during games played out on the embassy tennis court prior to his return to London in March.

"I found her a very fit, competitive player with a very powerful serve," The Sunday Times quoted Meyer as saying.

The embassy tennis court has for a long time been seen as a good place for British officials to make contacts with senior White House figures.

The paper said Rice and Meyer began playing tennis together in 2001 and that their warm relationship proved a key component in the close contacts that developed between London and Washington following the September 11 terror attacks on the United States of that year.

Henman

[ewing]

Condi must be able to seriously play! I think most humans would have problems returning Henmans serve..

[1Old Pro]

Maybe the tournement sponsors should just give Condi an exemption and let her enter the tournament......

[medscribe]

Let's see...national security adviser, virtuoso pianist, multiple PhDs, author of numerous books, and now tennis player in the world-class league.

Is there anything Condi CAN'T do...and do well!?!? Forget Jeb...let Condi take the nomination in 2008!!

ELP

[Frank_Discussion]

This sounds like an episode of I Spy...

[Maria S]

Add to that list that she speaks Russian very well. And she looks like a fashion model in that navy pantsuit.

[GraniteStateConservative]

Guest List for White House State Dinner
By The Associated Press

Guest list for the White House state dinner Monday night with President Bush and first lady Laura Bush:

Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and Jose Miguel T. Arroyo


Philippine Senate President Franklin M. Drilon and Mila Drilon


Philippine House Speaker Jose C. De Venecia Jr. and Gina De Venecia


Philippine Executive Secretary Alberto G. Romulo


Philippine Secretary of Foreign Affairs Blas F. Ople


Philippine Secretary of Finance Jose Isidro N. Camacho


Philippine Secretary of National Defense Angelo T. Reyes


Philippine Secretary of Trade and Industry Manuel A. Roxas III


Albert F. Del Rosario, Philippine ambassador to the United States, and Margaret Gretchen Del Rosario


Roberto R. Romulo, Philippine senior adviser on international competitiveness


Maximo V. Soliven, Philippine journalist

[snip]

**National security adviser Condoleezza Rice and Gene A. Washington, director of football operations, National Football League**

[GraniteStateConservative]

Condi! ping.

[Incorrigible]

Ha! I was thinking the same thing just from the headline!

What can't Condi do???

[mabelkitty]

She seems to be relaxing a little more. I'm glad to see that.

[ewing]

And she is experienced in directing a jet plane landing on a aircraft carrier..

[MattinNJ]

I cannot wait for Condi to destroy Shrillary in '08. I am going to tape every one of those debates and watch them for years to come with a grin on my face-ear to ear baby :-)

[BunnySlippers]

Very cool! Thanks for the ping.

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

I was hoping Condi would serve with a certain Russian tennis star:

[Vinnie]

An obvious cheap photo op. This dangerous exhibition has not been though out very well.
Why she could be conked on the head with a tennis ball or fall an seriously injure herself.
And the pics of her in a little tennis skirt, shameful cheap publicity stunt.
/sarcasm

Condi in 2008

[Mind-numbed Robot]

Maybe the tournament sponsors should just give Condi an exemption and let her enter the tournament......

If you do that you will have Andre Aggasi insisting on being on the Security Council. Fair is fair. I know, I know, he would have to qualify first but what is the fun in that?

[katana]

You mention Aggasi on the Security Council and I get a mental image of John MacEnroe as our UN ambassador turning to the French representative and saying "NO! NO! NO! What are you blind!!? How stupid can you be!!? How could you possibly have said that!!? What's wrong with you!!?" ... and then slamming a racquet onto the conference table.

[GraniteStateConservative]

[section9]

**National security adviser Condoleezza Rice and Gene A. Washington, director of football operations, National Football League**

That's odd.

What's Gene Washington doing back in the picture? I mean, I understand that he and Condi are good friends, but I didn't expect him to be escorting her to a State Dinner. If he's still single, tongues could start wagging.

Be Seeing You,

Chris