[thanx to Steph for the latter half of this chat ] and
[ thanx to Anne for the French translation ]
Session Start: Wed Aug 12 17:21:31 1998
*** Now talking in #ATPCenterCourt
*** Topic is 'Chat with Tennis Pros!¤'
<#ATPCenterCourt> Welcome to the ATP Tour Center Court!
<Woodforde> Hi everyone, so many qustions
<Brasil> MARK...HOW COULD AUSTRALIA LOSE TO ZIMBABWE ???
<Woodforde> brazil-Cos we did not have the BIG SCUD playing, thats why
<Squirt> UH OH, PECKER HATES FLIP!
<Woodforde> squirt-who are you and how do you know our nick-names
<Squirt> Pecker, I'm just a huge fan of you aussies.  You guys rock!
<PeteS15M> mark can you beat sampras
<Woodforde> Pete-i've already beaten Sampras at Queens
<Belgian_Girl> Mark, I'm trying to get a date with Moderator, HELP ME OUT"!!!!
<Woodforde> Belg-Girl- the moderator is a monster
<Kuerten>  [ Woodforde ] : How many time you play at KUERTEN?????
<Woodforde> Kuerten-i#ve played Kuerten once only.....he won in 3 sets
<DNain> WOODFORDE:  Is it true that the australian players are arguing amongst themselves for different reasons...?
<Woodforde> DNAIN-No, none of us are really fighting, most of us are disappointed in some of the younger guys who should've played D.Cup
<yonex> Woodforde why did you switch to Yonex racquets, and which one do you use?
<Woodforde> Yonex-i changed rackets because Yonex make the best frames and they are paying me decent money!
<^Salbei^> 20Woodforde, will you marry Woodbridge???? ;o)
<Woodforde> Salbei-sorry, Todd is already hitched and i may get hitched later in the year
<Queequeg> WOODFORDE: you and woodbridge don't sem to be the dominating force in double you once were.. what do u think abou that?
<Woodforde> Queequeg-Todd & I are still the best team out there but this year, we have lost a couple of big maatches in the Slam finals and that is why we are not the #1 team at the moment
<Brasil> Sorry, but u, sir, and Philipossis had a fight ? I didn't know...
<Woodforde> Brasil-No ,no fights, he's a great kid and a bloody good tennis player, i just wish he would have played D.Cup
<bako> mr. woodforde, do you accept(like) atp ranking system, if you don't accept some rules about ranking system, what must change?
<Woodforde> Bako- slow down Bako.........i look forward to the new changes in 2000
<Squirt> So Pecker, will you please tell us what the origins of your nickname are
<Woodforde> Squirt- soorrrry, it stays with me!
<Rod> marK, WHAT DO YOU THING O PAES AND BHUPATHI
<Woodforde> Rod-Those guys play a great game of doubles but they still need to prove themselves in the big events
<Squirt> Pecker, tell us your most embarassing moment on tour
<Woodforde> Squirt- can't tell you because.......well........let's forget it ok
<Queequeg> MARK: fav food? .. we ask all the players this
<Woodforde> I love Japanese food and Indian also.....Domino's pizza goes a long way for me too
<Crissy> Mark, what else do you like to do besides tennis?
<Woodforde> Crissy- the most difficult thing will be the competition but i'll love having not to train
[ I gave the Moderator some roses LOL ]
<Woodforde> the moderator is totally aroused by your gesture!!!!
<Squirt> Pecker, why didn't you do the full monty with todd in Monty Carlo?
<Woodforde> Squirt-i was the announcer for the night and i didn't want my 'pecker' to be the centre of attention
<^Salbei^> WOODFFORDE:   do you like chocolate?????
<Woodforde> I love chocolate.....Godiva's the best
<Eve> Mark, will you be playing at the Hamlet Cup just before the US Open?
<Woodforde> Eve- yep, i'll be at the Hamlet......want to win some matches before the Open
<Woodforde> Can you all see me eating these pretzels?
<DNain> WOODFORDE:  Have YOU ever been asked to do a FOSTERS beer commercial..? [ Those commercials are funny!!!!! ]
<Woodforde> Yuk, i don't drink beer
<Neen> wOODFORDE- HAVE U EVER BEEN ASKED TO POSE NUDE??
<Woodforde> Neen- no, but i pose nude for my girl, when she's around! Don't you?
<Jenny10is> Rafter isn't Gay!!!
<Woodforde> Jenny- I'm sorry but Rafter is GAY
<Crissy> No way!!!  Rafter is gay???
<Squirt> I have it on good authority that he is NOT gay
<Squirt> Although in the recent tennis match magazine, he does say that his mind is NOT on sex!
<Squirt> I'm sure it's on LARA.
<Woodforde> I'm kidding, Pat loves his women!!!!
<Squirt> We know.
<Queequeg> WOMEN?
<tito> Did he ever try anything on you in the locker room
<Woodforde> All i can say is DO NOT DROP THE SOAP!
<Squirt> Pecker, is it true that before the finals in the olympics, you were up all night learning the national anthem?
<Woodforde> Yes, i was up most of the night learning the anthem.....plus i was nervous and could not sleep
<Alien> mark, will u answer any tennis Qs?
<Woodforde> Yes Alien
<kukka> Mark: What other sports do you like?
<Woodforde> I love golf, golf, golf,
<tito> Mr. woodforde please answer on question, is rafter going to repeat???
<Woodforde> I hope that Pat does it again, he deserves all the success in the world, he is a fabulous guy
<Manu> MARK: what's your fave place in France,,
<Woodforde> Manu-I actually am a resident in Monaco
<Neen> CLOSE TO THE SWEDISH??
<Woodforde> Close to everyone.....Monaco is sooo small
<Squirt> Mark, tell us about Johnny Mac's biggest hissy fit while you two played doubles
<Woodforde> Actually, Jonny Mac never really spat the dummy when we played together, he was too busy teaching me the art of doubles
<Pion> manu: ca confirme ce que je pensais... il repond qu'aux questions les plus connes :)
[ Manu, it confirms what I was thinking: he only answers the stupid questions :-) ]
<Woodforde> pion - ce n'est pas vrai!
[ Pion, it's not true! ]
<tito> Mark, best tournament site??????
<Woodforde> Tito- the best tournament site is Wimbledon by a long way!
<Neen> DO U LIKE LONDON...THE CITY I MEAN
<Woodforde> I know only a few people there....i'm not really there a whole lot but i do think it's a wonderful town
<Queequeg> WOODFORDE: what's the best thing about being an australian tennis player?
<Woodforde> The Aussies are known all over the tennis world as hard working guys, who like to have a bit of fun at the end of the day and accept winning & losing
<Woodbrigde> woodforde, what model yonex racquet do you use?
<Woodforde> I can't tell you which model Yonex i use......Yonex are launching a nerw model for mme
<Neen> DO U THINK IT SAD THAT TENNIS IS NOT AS POPULAR AS IT USED TO BE??
<Woodforde> I wish tennis had the same popularity as say....10-15 years ago
<Neen> DO U EVER PLAY WITH YOUR GIRL??
<Woodforde> My wife to be........comes to certain events but not all of tthem, she loves being home in the desert
<Brasil> Mark, who are ur sponsors ?
<Woodforde> Brasil-Todd & I ahve deals with BMW, Rolex, Qantas Yonex,
<Woodforde_bridge> woodforde who do you think will be #1 at the end of the year
<Woodforde> I would have to say Sampras has the best chance of being #!
<Woodbrigde> What happened to K-Swiss?
<Woodforde> Geez, i did forget K-Swiss.....my god i can't believe i did that!
<Woodforde> Newk isn't a bad guy, he has a bushy moustache though
<Queequeg> WOODFORDE: what movie did rafter go to see on monday?
<Woodbrigde> h20 [ As in Halloween H20 for those who don't know ]
<Jenny10is> Mark, what players did you admire most growing up?
<Woodforde> I enjoyed watching McEnroe, and also Orantes from Spain, my 1st coach wanted me to play like him
<kukka> Mark: What is the best match on your career?
<Woodforde> The best match i think i played and can remeber lots about, was losing to Lendl one year at Wimbledon in 5 sets after having match point......the crowd noise was the loudest i have heard
<Woodforde> Hey Belg Girl, how do you write in pink?
<Belgian_Girl> Woodforde - i don't know, my brother taught me this trick to do it
<Brasil>  I thought ur best match should be one u had won !
<Woodforde> Brasil- doesn't always have to be one you won
* Woodforde_bridge mark so what do you think on agassi regaining the #1 spot
<Woodforde> Agassi has to still win a lot of matches to be close to reaching no.1, i think he is getting tired with all the matches he has played this summer
<kukka> Mark: Do you have any pets?
<Woodforde> No pets yet but would love to own a dog
[Pion did some colourful letters ]
<Woodforde> Pion, that was pretty
<Queequeg> MARK: shoe size?
<Woodforde> Size 10 1/2 shoe
<Crissy> MArk, do you think Rios deserves to be No. 1?
<Woodforde> Crissy, i actually am one of the few guys who finds Rios a decent person to play regardless of beating him or losing to him
<Woodbrigde> my last question--woodforde when do you plan to retire?
<Woodforde> I plan to retire after the 2000 Olympics
<kukka> Mark: Do you have any brothers or sisters?
<Woodforde> I have two older sisters
<Brasil> Who has the biggest shoe size on tour ???
<Woodforde> Fromberg wears a size 14 i believe
<Belgian_Girl> ice ice baby
<Woodforde> Vanilla Ice had one cool song and that was it
<Woodbrigde> Woodforde, can we have your email address?
<Woodforde> Just look up my e-mail address....it's listed i think
<Brasil>Good evening for u all...going to have dinner...Mr. Woodforde, do u accept a piece of pizza ?????
<Woodforde> I accept the pizza if it has pepperoni and onions
<ToddA> Mark - do you generally do your off-season training in southern California?
<Woodforde> Yep, my off-season always is usually in P.Springs
<Woodforde> Why the questions about shoe sizes?
<Queequeg> WOODFORDE: I'M just curios. what r they?
<DNain> WOODFORDE:  Have YOU ever donated any of YOUr earnings to non profit organizations like the National Association for the Advancement of Coloured People..?
<Woodforde> I've donated some money to a charity back in Adelaide , of which i'm the patron....it's for people who have terminal disease
<kukka> Mark: What's your favorite movie?
<Woodforde> My favourite flick was THE POWER OF ONE
<Queequeg> MARK: what's todd and rafter's shoe sizes? puhh leeze i have to go!!
<Woodforde> They are smaller than mine!!!!!!!! I#
<Jenny10is> Mark, what do you think of the Philippoussis/Ivanisevic doubles team?
<Woodforde> I think Phillipossis was better to stick with Rafter
<Woodforde> He did, but if Scud was to get his thinking back on track, i'm
sure Pat would play with him in a minute
<Curious> Mark: What charitable organization are you talking about?  Please
enlighten me?  What organization do you support?
<Woodforde> ary Potter Foundation in Adelaide
<kukka> Mark: Are you going to Stockholm open in November?
<Woodforde> No i'm not playing in Stockholm this year
<Jenny10is> Mark, do you follow the WTA tour?
<Woodforde> Sort of, i do watch the Women's Tour a little
 Mark, just to let you know... Potter in dutch means gay...
<Woodforde> Big Deal, i don't care what it means elsewhere......The Mary
Potter Foundation is a great cause and if you want to donate any funds....
<Jenny10is> Who is your favorite WTA player?
<Woodforde> Well, i hope Graf gets back to the top, she is an incredible
athlete
<DNain> WOODFORDE:  Who's the hottest chick on the women's tour...?
<Woodforde> I think the best legs belong to either Graf or Barbara Paulas
<Crissy> Mark, do you like Pete?
<Woodforde> I think Sampras is quite boring at times
<Jenny10is> Mark, do you think Rafter/Bjorkmann is a good team?
<Woodforde> Bjorkman/Rafter are a dangerous team, we need to keep a close
watch on them
<Boonie> Woodie what do you think of Andy Ilie
<Woodforde> Andrew Illie is a talent and i reckon he could make something
like the top 20!
<Jenny10is> Mark, do you think Rafter/Philipppoussis could have been #1?
<Woodforde>  Yeah, they could have but not now.......Rafter loves pairing
with Bjorky
<Kevin> Woodforde is a drop out [ Actually Kevin said a lot of other undesirable stuff which I chose not to put here. ]
<Woodforde> Hey Kevin, give me a break will ya
<Alien> best player on the tour NOT to have won a title???
<Woodforde> Oh God there are soooo many events, i couldn't begin to
remember who has not won
<Mitch>  . . . and, any chance we could get you to come to the AT&T
Challenge in Atlanta next spring?
<Woodforde> Hi Mitch, i think i am coming to Hotlanta next year,.......you
coming to watch?
<Boonie> Mark what tournie do you like better Syd or S.A
<Woodforde> I prefer my home town event.....Adelaide
<Crissy> mark, even if you think Pete is boring sometimes... its his bday
today!
<Crissy> Tell him, happy bday... and could he chat with us..
<Woodforde> Pete is tooooooo busy to come and chat, he is off with
Kimberley tonight
<^Salbei^> MARK: HAve you ever played in Barcelona?
<Woodforde> I played in Barcelona a few years ago....lost early
<Woodforde> Okay it's time for me to wrap things up here......any last
questions?
<^Salbei^> AMRK; what languages do you speak?
<Woodforde> I speak a little French
<Manu> YES , what's the wheather in Cinci'?
<Woodforde> The weahter here has been the same as always ......hot & humid
<Woodforde> Catch you all at another event sooin, if i am asked to come
back by these guys in the trailer with me
<DNain> WOODFORDE:  Why are you all alone in a trailler with guys...?  :(
jk..? :)
<Woodforde> DNAin- you are perverted
<Woodforde> Alien- tell me your real name!
<Alien> Brett Steven
<Alien> enjoying my holiday with the new daughter
<Alien> Pauline Hanson
<Woodforde> Where are you holidaying Alien?
<Alien> auckland
<Alien> remember i bet you 6-0 6-0
<Alien> post wimbledon blues i think
<Alien> ask mark
<Woodforde> Alien- too bad we beat you in the 1st round of doubles there
<Alien> no
<Alien> this year yes, you were lucky
<Woodforde> Tell me your sons name!
<Alien> mryan
<Woodforde> Kiren Perkins
<Alien> i mean ryan slip of finger
<Alien> mark you were meant to say brett steven was the best player not to
win a title, just you wait to NY
<Woodforde> Alien, come and stay at our hotel with the family in NYC
<Jenny10is> MArk, do you know Phil Dent?
<Woodforde> Yes i know Philby
<Alien> staying with amanda tait
<Woodforde> Alien got to go and take a shower, send me your e-mail address
that has those sites we talked about in Monte Carlo....remember those?
<Alien> YO
<Woodforde> C'mon Alien tell me the sites we chatted about!
<Jenny10is> Mark, Tell Taylor I love him!...ok?
<Woodforde> Yep I'll tell Taylor for you
<Woodforde> Take care everyone, speak to you all again soon