This Halloween I was Yannick Noah. A total of two people figured it out. I was aware that it was a somewhat esoteric choice, but I guess I underestimated how few tennis fans there are these days, or perhaps I should say so few tennis fans in the United States these days. At any rate I chose Yannick Noah because he was just so damn cool. He wore dreadlocks, he could return overhead lobs by running back and hitting the ball between his legs and he smoked weed.

He won the French Open in 1983 and has been the only Frenchman since then to have done so. At one point he was ranked number 3 in the world. I remember watching him play at Indian Wells in 1989 with my Dad, 20 years ago!!! He sported Le Coq Sportif everything, including his tennis racket, and spoke English with a smooth French accent. When he won the French Open he hugged his dad and cried.

Noah also played on the French Davis Cup team for 11 years. He was captain of the French team that won the Davis Cup in 1991 and 1996. He was also captain of the French Fed Cup team that won it in 1997. In 2005 he was admitted to the International Tennis Hall of Fame. Here is the picture I took when I visited. Amazing Arc, Yes!

Here I am with the first guy who recognized that I was Yannick. Clearly he has very discriminating taste as he was supposed to be a Formula One driver who died in a car crash. Only the truly erudite watch Formula One (mostly Euros). And you can't knock his wife for being the Heineken girl (note: they may have only been drinking Heineken).

This guy also recognized me as Yannick. I think he was a French Commando. It does not need to be said that the French love him (although I just said it). He is a national hero.

These days, Yannick is an international pop-star and restauranteur. He has put out several albums including Black or What, Yannick Noah and Charango. If you are ever at Saint Barthelemy i.e Saint Barts in the French West Indies go eat at Do Brazil. Also, his son, Joakim Noah, played basketball at the University of Florida in the 2006 and 2007 seasons and was the 9th overall draft pick in the NBA draft. He is currently with the Chicago Bulls.