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Hey Guys,

Wimbledon is in full swing (pun unintended), and both the players and their rackets look more imposing than ever. It wasn’t so long ago that tennis pros used (gasp!) wooden rackets and strings made of cat gut (exactly what it sounds like). I set out to discover which tennis pro first made the switch over to a more modern instrument.

Unlike past journeys into the wilds of the untamed Internet, this search was relatively simple. According to several sources, including this article from ITF Tennis, the first widely used non-wooden racket was the Wilson T2000.

Tennis Express explains that metal rackets were available as far back as the 1800s, but they were never popular until Jimmy Connors started playing with the T2000. According to Tennis Express, Connors continued to use the T2000 “for most of the 1970′s and would use its power to win Grand Slam after Grand Slam.”

Although it was a giant leap forward for tennis players, not everybody dug the metal racket. ’80 Tennis writes that many found the “sweet spot” on the T2000 to be too small and unforgiving. Nevertheless, it marshaled in the beginning of a new era in tennis. Wooden rackets used by icons like Bjorn Borg would soon be extinct.

These days, most rackets are composite, made from glass fiber and carbon fiber. And, though rackets have gotten more technical, the sizes have been standardized. According to eHow, the maximum size is 29.5 inches.

So, that’s the story of the first metal racket. Anybody out there know why tennis is scored the way it is? Love, 15, 30, and 40 seem pretty random. If you have any ideas and links, please leave a comment below.

Thanks for reading,

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Hey Guys,

The death of Michael Jackson shocked and saddened people around the world. In recent years, Jackson was best known for his financial troubles and disturbing legal problems. But before those issues dominated his life, he was the consummate entertainer. His nickname was, of course, “The King of Pop.”

According to an article from MSNBC, the origin of the nickname is a bit of a mystery even now. “Most accounts said it (the nickname) was self-imposed, although Jackson claims it was taken from friend Elizabeth Taylor’s speech about him at an awards ceremony.”

I found a clip of Elizabeth Taylor referring to MJ as the “King of Pop, Rock, and Soul” at a 1989 awards show. You can view the video here. Other sources, including this one from Starpulse Entertainment News, agree that Ms. Taylor did indeed coin the phrase.

The Y chromosome sages at AskMen.com assembled a list of the great nicknames in show business. Among the marvelous monikers: the Godfather of Soul (James Brown), the Boss (Bruce Springsteen), the King of Cool (Steve McQueen), and the Chairman of the Board (Frank Sinatra). The site also explains that Jackson “allegedly only allowed MTV to broadcast” his Black or White video “on the condition that they refer to him as ‘The King of Pop.’” Ms. Taylor may have came up with the phrase, but apparently Jackson is the one who enforced it.

Regardless of who thought up the expression, it was certainly well deserved. The King of Pop had a dozen number one hits over the course of his career and leaves a legacy of great tunes, magical moves, and a very complicated and tragic life.

Please feel free to share your favorite Jackson memory in the comments below.

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Hey Guys,

The other day, I heard a very interesting fact. The logo for the “Ghostbusters” film is among the most recognized symbols in the entire world. Now, I have no idea if that is actually true or not, but it did inspire me to look into who designed the “no ghost” logo. Much like the ‘Busters’ battle with Mr. Stay Puft, this one was more difficult than I anticipated.

Searches on “ghostbusters logo” and “who designed the ghostbusters symbol” proved depressingly fruitless. Likewise, IMDb and Wikipedia, didn’t seem to mention the genius behind the symbol. I was beginning to feel that this anonymous artist would never get the recognition that he or she deserved when I came across a Ghostbusters fan site, appropriately called “Spook Central.”

The site explains that it was writer and star Dan Aykroyd who actually came up with the symbol. It was later “refined by artists,” but Aykroyd (aka “the heart and soul of the Ghostbusters”) created “the idea for the logo when he dreamed up the original concept for the film.”

I usually like to get two sources on a question before I call it a day. Fortunately, I found a video clip on Amazon.com that backs up the Aykroyd claim. The art designer for the 1984 film, John DeCuir, Jr. explains that he takes credit for having “art directed” the original symbol, but he “did not conceive it.” That honor belongs to ol’ Danny boy.

So, there ya have it. Mr. Aykroyd not only starred in and co-wrote the screenplay, he also came up with one of the world’s most recognizable symbols (maybe). He’s got the tools and he’s got the talent.

What symbols and logos do you guys find to be most memorable? Coca-Cola? Adidas? The Red Cross? Please chime in with a comment below.

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Hello, everyone,

If you’ve had a chance to visit the Small Business category on Yahoo! Answers, you’ll know that many community members are looking for help on a variety of topics, such as setting up a business, finding a suitable company name, and putting together a great staff.

Whether you’re thinking of starting a small business or you’re trying to keep one afloat, we’d like to point out another great resource: the Small Business Answers Center. Stop by and take advantage of a rich archive of articles and topic discussions, and dig into a library of small-business questions and answers.

To get you better acquainted with the Small Business Answers Center, we’re featuring a series of events, each focused on a specific topic of interest. You’ll be able to ask an expert your most pressing questions – and, if you have the winning question, win a $20,000 Yahoo! Search Marketing credit.

Running a small business is hard. This contest is easy. There are four separate contests, each featuring one small-business topic. The first topic of the series is growing your small business in good times and bad, and the contest period runs from June 22 through June 24.

Find out how to enter, and read the official contest rules, here. You can enter as often as you like within each 72-hour contest period. At the close of each of the four contests, entries are judged and the winning question and expert’s answer will be featured on the Small Business Answers Center.

Good luck, everyone!

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